Telegram groups advertising 'massage' shops all over S'pore that are alleged fronts for prostitution services

A number of Telegram group chats are suspected of using massage as a front for prostitution services in Singapore after some of them advertised services with explicit content.

Explicit content

Checks by Mothership showed that as of Nov. 5, there were at least 10 such groups claiming that they promoted massage services.

However, explicit messages in the group chat advertised sexual services, and attached photos of various women with their personal information and the specific services they could provide.

Messages also highlighted that the women tested negative for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

The number of members in each group chat ranged from over 7,000 to over 30,000.

Locations islandwide

One Telegram channel that Mothership found was created on Oct. 1, 2024, and is still active to date.

The services are apparently available islandwide, in locations ranging from Bishan to Lavender.

Advertisements are posted at various times throughout the day, promoting services by women from various countries.

Shin Min Daily News reported that some groups even directly list "shops" across different parts of Singapore, as well as extending their services to Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

The list reportedly includes close to 100 locations like Changi, Aljunied, Ang Mo Kio, Yishun, Bedok, Redhill, and Toa Payoh.

Some of the groups were the same as telegram groups reported in previous instances of illicit activities in purported massage parlors.

Residents shocked, worried

Residents in the area expressed shock regarding this when Shin Min visited neighbourhood communities.

A 62-year-old woman said she was worried that these sexual services would have a negative impact on society.

"These days, if you want to find sex services, you can find them online, it's unbelievable," she said.

"Even if you don't intentionally seek them out, it's hard to guarantee you won't come across them when friends share information with each other every day!"

Another woman, 67, told Shin Min that she was more familiar with WhatsApp and Facebook.

She had seen similar massage advertisements on Facebook before, but the content was quite subtle and not as explicit as Telegram.

"We older folks aren't very tech-savvy, and we never expected to find this kind of thing online. It's really indecent!"

One of the women asked Shin Min how to find such group chats and identify if there were any massage parlours near her home.

"I feel like I could find one just two blocks away. I need to check if there are any near my house," said the woman, who wanted to prevent her husband from "going astray in his old age."

Penalties

Speaking to Shin Min, a 27-year-old woman said there are various ways to seek out sexual services online, adding that there are many ways for a partner to cheat if they wish to do so.

A 28-year-old man noted that he had received messages advertising similar services, but chose to ignore them.

Under Section 146A(1) of the Singapore’s Women's Charter 1961, any person—whether inside or outside Singapore—in the course of business uses a remote communication service with a Singapore link to offer, facilitate, organise, manage, or supervise paid sexual services involving a woman or girl in Singapore commits an offence.

There will also be new changes to the regulatory regime for massage establishments, the Singapore Police Force announced on Nov. 5, 2026.

Under the new regime, operators of open-concept MEs (OMEs) will no longer be exempted from licensing.

In addition, all OME operators must comply with the OME requirements.

These include the following:

Customers and members of the public must have an unobstructed view of massage services being provided at all times from both inside and outside of the premises.

The premises must not contain rooms, partitions, cubicles, curtains or other features that would allow massage services to be provided in private.