27-year-old in Singapore on Student's Pass arrested for alleged China govt official impersonation scam amounting to $40k, Singapore News
In a media release on Saturday (May 10), the police said that they were alerted to the scam by the victim, a 20-year-old man, at about 11.50am on April 9.
The alleged scammers posing as China government officials, claimed the victim's identity had been misused in China and he was implicated in a transnational money-laundering syndicate as a result, said the police.
Officers from the Anti-Scam Command (ASCom) and Clementi Police Division identified the 27-year-old suspect — who allegedly assisted the scammers to collect money from the victim — and arrested him on the same day.
Preliminary investigations showed he was a victim of the same type of scam, and had been manipulated into collecting money from other victims under the guise of assisting with official investigations, according to the police.
The 27-year-old suspect is being investigated for offences involving cheating and cheating by personation.
If convicted of cheating, he can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. If convicted of cheating by personation, he faces a jail term of up to five years, a fine, or both.
The police said that they take a serious stance against any person who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
They also encouraged members of the public to avoid letting others use their bank accounts or mobile lines as they could held accountable if these are linked to crimes.
Government officials will never request members of the public to make bank transfers, provide personal banking details, click on links that lead to bank websites or install third party software on personal devices over the phone or through text messages, said the police, adding that foreign officials also do not have legal powers to do so.
Those who wish to learn more about scams can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799, the police added.
Anyone with information on such scams may call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit a report online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
[[nid:713301]]
bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Malaysia's anti-graft agency busts arms smuggling ring masterminded by senior military officers
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The bust was carried out by the MACC's Intelligence Division with support from its Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad. KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has crippled a major weapons smuggling syndicate allegedly masterminded by senior Armed Forces officers operating in the southern part of the country. The bust, codenamed Ops Sohor, was carried out by the MACC's Intelligence Division with support from its Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad. Sources said five senior military officers and five civilians, including an Indonesian national, aged between 30 and 55, were arrested around the Klang Valley in simultaneous raids which began at 6.30am on Aug 13. The officers, from the Armed Forces' intelligence unit, included two retired members of the same division. They had been tasked with monitoring and preventing smuggling activities, but are believed to have colluded with the syndicate over the past five years, allegedly amassing more than RM3 million (S$915,000) in illicit gains. Initial investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly leaked military operational information to smugglers and conspired to bring in prohibited items such as drugs, cigarettes and other contraband from neighbouring countries. The smuggling activities were estimated to be worth around RM5 million a month. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore banks face headwinds in rest of 2025, but DBS is pulling ahead: Analysts Singapore Allianz insures Singapore's first fully driverless bus amid challenges posed by autonomous vehicles Asia Mixed reactions among Malaysia drivers on S'pore move to clamp down on illegal ride-hailing services Business S'pore life insurance sales surged in first half, led by strong growth in investment-linked plans Business Singtel Q1 profit soars 317.4% to $2.9 billion on exceptional gains of $2.2 billion Singapore Yishun man admits to making etomidate-laced pods for vaporisers; first Kpod case conviction Asia Diamonds, watches and shoes: Luxury items at heart of probe into South Korea's former first lady Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story 'The suspects are believed to have received bribes of between RM30,000 and RM50,000 for each smuggling trip,' a source said. The raids, which followed a year-long surveillance operation, also led to the seizure of more than RM63,000 in cash, several packets of drugs, weighing and measuring equipment, alcoholic beverages, and replica firearms from the targeted premises. Sources described the smuggling network involving the senior officers as 'large and complex' and difficult to dismantle. During the raids, an Indonesian woman without valid travel documents was also detained. She is believed to be the mistress of one of the military officers under investigation. When contacted, MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests. The case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009. He stressed that the operation should serve as a serious reminder to all parties, given that the smuggling activities posed a threat to national security. 'Despite having multiple agencies to monitor and take action, smuggling activities still persist,' he said. All suspects will be brought before the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court on Aug 14 for a remand application under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
New Paper
3 days ago
- New Paper
Four men arrested in Bukit Timah said to be linked to housebreaking syndicates
The four men who were arrested on Aug 8 in Bukit Timah after a police search operation are believed to be linked to housebreaking syndicates involving Chinese nationals. The four Chinese nationals were charged on Aug 10. Zhuo Yinggui, 36; Yang Chao, 41; Zhou Qifa, 36; and He Jiao, 38, were each handed one charge for possessing housebreaking tools. According to court documents, they were allegedly found along the Rail Corridor near the Greenleaf estate with two black balaclavas, three screwdrivers bent at the tips, three pairs of gloves, two wrenches and a torchlight. If convicted, they could be jailed for up to two years and fined. A police operation near the Rail Corridor and Bukit Timah Road was ongoing when the four men were spotted behaving suspiciously in a park. They fled into a forested area after being approached by the police. The police said on Aug 10 they were conducting an operation against housebreaking as housebreakers would typically exploit the forested areas along the Rail Corridor to conceal their movements as they attempt to break into homes. Within two hours, two of the men were arrested in the forested area. The third man was arrested at a mall near Clementi the same night, while the fourth was arrested the next morning at a hotel in Geylang. They were found to have housebreaking tools such as screwdrivers, spanners, clothing and cash that totalled more than $400. Police officers were stationed in the vicinity of Greenleaf Place on the night of Aug 8. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO The four men, who are from the Guizhou province in China, entered Singapore by Woodlands Checkpoint on social visit passes on Aug 8. For three of the men, it was their first time entering Singapore. The police said the men could be linked to other housebreaking-related cases reported in Singapore between April and July. During that period, there were three reported cases of housebreaking near the Rail Corridor, and one attempted housebreaking incident. In two of the housebreaking incidents, about $60,000 worth of luxury watches and jewellery were stolen. Investigations are looking to determine if the men are linked to previous cases of housebreaking involving international criminal syndicates. The four have been remanded for further investigations. Bail has not been offered. Their cases are expected to be heard again on Aug 15. Police have stepped up measures to prevent housebreaking and theft in private residential estates since June 2024, such as placing more police cameras and having frequent patrols. The commander of Clementi division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Serene Chiu, at a press conference about break-ins, at Clementi Police Division headquarters on Aug 10. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY The police urged residents to adopt crime prevention measures such as installing CCTVs and burglar alarm systems. The commander of Clementi division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Serene Chiu, said: "Through effective coordination and sense-making by the police, the four men were arrested in less than 24 hours from the time they entered Singapore, and before they could commit housebreaking."
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Russia makes new protest to Italy in dispute over cancelled Gergiev concert
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Russia said on Thursday it had made a new protest to Italy in a dispute over the cancellation of a concert in Italy where Valery Gergiev, a renowned Russian conductor with a record of support for President Vladimir Putin, had been due to perform. The concert near Naples was scrapped last month following a storm of criticism, including from the widow of late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny who called Gergiev an "accomplice" of Putin. Italy's culture minister had said the event risked becoming a "sounding board for Russian propaganda". Moscow registered an initial protest on July 23, accusing Italy of discrimination, cancel culture and caving in to anti-Russian lobbying. On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Italian chargé d'affaires two days ago to complain about an "ongoing anti-Russian campaign" in Italy that it said was aggravating a crisis in bilateral relations. The ministry said Italy had reacted disproportionately to what it called Moscow's rejection of "some odious statements by high-ranking representatives of the Italian government directed against Russia." It added, without providing examples, that Italian media had published false stories and carried out "Russophobic attacks with the full support of Italian ruling circles". The case highlights Russia's fury at the shunning by the West of some of its leading artists in the wake of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain Asia Trump ratchets up tariff pressure on India, sparking despair among exporters and growth fears Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Gergiev has conducted orchestras at the world's leading concert halls but found himself unwelcome in the West after the start of the war. Milan's La Scala, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and New York's Carnegie Hall were among those to sever ties with him over his failure to condemn it. He is now head of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre. Gergiev has drawn strong criticism from opponents of Putin for performing over the years at events with political overtones, including in 2016 at a concert in the ruins of Palmyra in Syria after Russia intervened in Syria's civil war on the side of Syria's then-president, Bashar al-Assad. REUTERS
