Malaysian Arrested in Singapore Linked to Scam Syndicate, 17th Case Since March
SINGAPORE, April 25 — A 34-year-old Malaysian man has been arrested in Singapore for his suspected involvement in a scam, marking the 17th Malaysian detained since March for assisting fraud syndicates.
Singapore police said they have observed a rising trend of Malaysians entering the country to act as intermediaries, collecting cash and valuables from scam victims.
Growing Cross-Border Scam Activity
Authorities noted that syndicates are increasingly relying on individuals to physically retrieve proceeds from victims, highlighting a growing pattern of organised cross-border crime.
This trend has raised concerns over the evolving methods used by scam networks.
Latest Scam Tactics Revealed
In the latest case, a victim received a call from an individual posing as a representative of telecom company M1.
The caller claimed that the victim had signed up for a two-year mobile plan and would be charged accordingly.
When the victim denied the claim, the call was transferred to individuals impersonating officials from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Fear Tactics Used to Manipulate Victim
The scammers created urgency by falsely claiming the victim was under investigation for money laundering.
She was instructed to hand over S$21,000 in cash as part of the supposed investigation.
The victim later realised it was a scam and reported the matter to the police.
Suspect Faces Serious Charges
The arrested individual is expected to be charged with assisting in retaining benefits from criminal conduct.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both.
Public Urged to Stay Vigilant
Police have reminded the public not to hand over cash, jewellery or valuables to unknown individuals or those whose identities cannot be verified.
They also warned against leaving items in designated locations for collection without proper confirmation.
-wilayah.com.my
