Police Crack Down on Scam, Reassure Public on Safety Measures
Singapore — The Police announced on Sunday (Feb 20) that 13 individuals have been arrested in relation to the recent OCBC phishing scam, which targeted 790 victims and resulted in total losses of S$13.7 million. Among those arrested, seven have now been formally charged.
The group includes nine males aged 19 to 21 and four females aged 19 to 22. The Police have been monitoring the situation since the scam’s inception in December last year, leading to the identification of the suspects through “thorough investigations and extensive probes,” according to CNA.
The arrests were made by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on February 16 and 17. During the operation, authorities seized various items, including mobile devices, bank cards, SIM cards, cash totaling S$2,760, and two Rolex watches valued at approximately S$35,600.
As of February 18, the seven charged individuals face allegations of assisting others in retaining benefits from criminal activities. If convicted, they could face up to ten years in prison, fines reaching S$500,000, or both.
Ongoing investigations are being conducted on the remaining six individuals arrested, with police emphasizing their commitment to tracking down anyone involved in scams. “Perpetrators will be dealt with firmly and in accordance with the law,” the Police stated.
Additionally, authorities reminded the public to decline requests from others to use their bank accounts or mobile lines, as they may be held accountable if linked to criminal activities. “Combatting scams requires a whole-of-society effort. While police have intensified enforcement, the public plays a crucial role in the fight against scams,” the Singapore Police Force (SPF) added.
On February 15, Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan, who leads the Inter-Ministry Committee on Scams, informed Parliament that approximately S$2 million of the illegally obtained funds had been recovered. He noted that 121 local bank accounts had been frozen in connection with the scams, and around S$2.2 million traced to 89 overseas bank accounts.
Victims of the OCBC scam had received SMS instructions from accounts designed to mimic legitimate bank communications. Minister Tan revealed that the police had identified 107 local and 171 overseas IP addresses linked to the unauthorized use of the victims’ banking accounts online, and investigations into these local addresses are currently underway.
