7 men arrested, $500k seized after FBI and Meta tip off police to online betting syndicate in S'pore
Seven men aged between 28 and 53 have been arrested for their suspected involvement in a transnational unlawful remote betting syndicate, the police said on Oct 6.
The arrests followed an islandwide operation on Oct 5 conducted by the police in collaboration with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Meta.
Since March 2023, police had received multiple reports from victims who were enticed to open gambling accounts on an online website and transfer money to anonymous bank accounts in exchange for betting credits.
Victims were initially able to withdraw winnings, but later lost access to their funds after being told to accumulate more winnings or purchase additional credits.
Some victims reportedly lost more than $175,000.
Acting on information provided by the FBI and Meta, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department conducted simultaneous raids at several locations, including Flora Drive, Bukit Batok West Avenue 9, Chin Swee Road, Sims Place, Pasir Ris Street 51, Tampines Avenue 2 and Hougang Avenue 8.
During the operation, police seized more than $500,000 worth of assets, including cash, 15 bank accounts, a luxury watch, as well as electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones and SIM cards.
Four of the suspects will be charged in court on Oct 6 for conducting an unlawful betting operation under the Gambling Control Act 2022.
Investigations against the remaining three are ongoing.
Those found guilty of operating unlawful betting services can face up to seven years' jail and a fine of up to $500,000.
Police said they take a serious view of illegal betting activities and will continue to work with international partners to disrupt and dismantle such syndicates.
