41 arrested for money mule activities linked to scams, some were promised up to $9,000 but were unpaid
A total of 41 people will be charged in court from June 2 to 6 for money mule activities linked to various scams.
The 32 men and nine women, aged between 16 and 64, were involved in government official impersonation scams, rental scams, job scams, fake friend call scams and e-commerce scams.
Thirty-five of them were alleged to have relinquished or sold their bank accounts and enabled criminal syndicates to commit money laundering.
Some of them allegedly cheated the banks into opening personal bank accounts before handing the ATM cards and iBanking credentials to unknown people. Some were alleged to have disclosed their SingPass credentials unlawfully, enabling criminal syndicates to misuse their identities when opening bank accounts.
Many of the individuals were promised commissions of up to $9,000 for their bank accounts or SingPass accounts, but were eventually left unpaid.
The charges include assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct in certain circumstances, and abetment to cheating. Other offences were abetting unauthorised access to computer material, and unlawful disclosure of password or access code in relation to national digital identity service.
Those found guilty of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct or cheating can face an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine or both.
The offence of facilitating unauthorised access to computer material carries an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine or both, for a first conviction.
Those found guilty of unlawful disclosure of password or access code in relation to the national digital identity service can face an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine or both.
To avoid being implicated in criminal activity, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use their bank or SingPass accounts.
They should also be wary of seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising fast and easy pay-outs for the use of their bank accounts or SingPass accounts.
Anyone who allows their personal bank accounts to be used to receive and transfer money to others will be held accountable if these transactions are linked to crimes.
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.
