2 S'poreans & 1 M'sian, aged 16-19, arrested in S'pore for S$3.7 million business e-mail compromise scam

The Singapore police have arrested three people for their suspected involvement in a business email compromise (BEC) scam involving S$2.89 million (S$3.68 million).

Two of those arrested are a Singaporean and a Malaysian, both aged 19, as well as a male Singaporean, 16.

The trio allegedly duped a U.S. fund remitter via a business e-mail compromise scam into transferring some S$3.7 million to one of the corporate accounts they had set up.

Fraudulent activity

On Apr. 22, the police were alerted to suspicious activities in two corporate accounts under DBS Bank.

The account holder apparently attempted to withdraw US$2.56 million (S$3.26 million) after the remaining amount was wired to overseas bank accounts.

DBS staff alerted police

DBS staff, who suspected fraudulent activity, referred the matter to the police.

Officers from Anti-Scam Command reached out to Interpol to contact the remitter who transferred the S$3.68 million lump sum to the corporate account from the United States.

Arrested

Through investigations, the corporate bank account holder was arrested in the vicinity of Woodlands on Apr. 23.

His two accomplices were arrested on the same day.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the trio had allegedly conspired with a scam syndicate based in Malaysia to set up shell companies between March 2026 and April 2026.

They apparently opened corporate bank accounts to facilitate the receipt of the scam proceeds.

Interpol was also informed that the U.S. remitter had fallen prey to BEC.

Charged

Both 19-year-olds were charged in court on Apr. 25 with the offence of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct.

The offence carries a jail term of up to 10 years, a fine not exceeding S$500,000, or both.

The 16-year-old is also currently being investigated.

Mandatory caning

Since Dec. 30, 2025, scammers and members or recruiters of scam syndicates will face mandatory caning of at least six strokes, which can go up to 24 strokes.

Under the Facility Restriction Framework, individuals involved in mule-related offences, whether they are under investigation and assessed to be at risk, or have been warned, issued with composition sums, prosecuted, or convicted, may face restrictions on banking services and mobile line subscriptions to prevent further facilitation of scams.

The police reminded members of the public that anyone linked to such offences will be held accountable.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.