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Nearly 300 men and women aged between 16 and 74 are currently assisting with investigations for their suspected involvement in scams, as scammers or money mules, according to a press release from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on June 5.

S$7 million lost to scams

These suspects - a total of 193 men and 101 women - were identified from a two-week islandwide enforcement operation between May 22 and June 4.

The operation involved officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and seven Police Land Divisions.

The suspects are believed to have been involved in 534 reported cases of scams, comprising mainly of e-commerce, investment, job and loan scams, along with fake gambling platforms and the impersonation of government and China officials.

In all, victims lost close to S$7 million.

Penalties for such offences

The suspects are being investigated for offences of cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence.

Under section 420 of the Penal Code, the offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.

The offence of money laundering under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act carries an imprisonment term not exceeding 10 years, a fine not exceeding S$500,000, or both.

The offence of carrying on a business of providing any type of payment service in Singapore without a licence under Section 5 of the Payment Services Act 2019 carries a fine not exceeding S$125,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.

To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use their bank account or mobile lines.

They will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes.

Members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688.

Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online here.

Top photo by Yura Fresh on Unsplash