40 linked to money-mule activities to face new charges under tougher anti-scam laws

Forty people will be charged in court from Sept 9 to 11 for their alleged involvement in scam-related money-mule activities.

The 40 people will be charged with new offences, which were introduced in 2023 following amendments to the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 and the Computer Misuse Act 1993.

The 33 men and seven women, aged between 18 and 43, are suspected to have given or sold their bank accounts, Singpass credentials, or both, to criminal syndicates, said the police on Sept 8. 

Some of the suspects allegedly handed over their ATM cards and internet banking details to unknown people after opening bank accounts, allowing syndicates to launder money and commit scams. 

Others are suspected to have disclosed their Singpass details to syndicates, allowing the syndicates to use their identities to open bank accounts.

In one case, a suspect gave a stranger his Singpass details for cash, and his details were used to open four bank accounts, which were then used to launder more than $500,000. 

The new offences were introduced in 2023 with the aim of curbing the facilitation of scams, movement of criminal proceeds and the abuse of Singpass.

If found guilty of assisting in criminal activity for personal benefits, cheating and disclosing one’s Singpass password or details, an individual will face a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both. 

Those convicted of facilitating unauthorised access to computer material will face a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both. 

The Sentencing Advisory Panel in August published guidelines that recommended significant jail sentences – a term of at least six months – for those who let scammers control their bank accounts.

Individuals are urged to adopt precautionary measures to avoid being an accomplice in such crimes, such as refraining from disclosing their Singpass details and receiving money via bank transfer from an unknown person.

Source: Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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