Four nabbed for selling their banking accounts and Singpass details to scammers

Four people were arrested for their suspected involvement in various scams, including lottery scams and impersonation ruses where they posed as government officials or friends of victims.

The police said in a statement on Nov 23 that the four people face various offences connected to money mule activities, including conspiracy to commit cheating and assisting an unlicensed moneylending business. They will be charged in court on Nov 24.

All four people are alleged to have sold their bank accounts or Singpass credentials to criminal syndicates.

If found guilty of conspiring to cheat the banks into opening bank accounts, the pair face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both.

Two men, aged 33 and 50, had purportedly cheated banks into opening bank accounts before handing over the ATM cards and iBanking credentials to the criminal syndicates.

Both men also allegedly provided their Singpass credentials to the criminal syndicates to open new bank accounts.

The 50-year-old man, another man and a woman, both aged 20, allegedly sold their Singpass credentials for between $600 and $3,000 to criminal syndicates to create new bank accounts.

For first-time offenders, the offence of handing over banking details to criminals is punishable with a fine of up to $5,000, jail time of up to two years, or both.

If found guilty of disclosing Singpass credentials, the four can be jailed up to 3 years, fined up to $10,000, or both.

Meanwhile, the offence of assisting an unlicensed moneylending business can lead to a fine of at least $30,000 and jail time of up to four years, for a first-time offender.

The police said they take a serious view of these offences and will not hesitate to take action against individuals who may be involved in scams or unlicensed moneylending activities and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

To avoid being an accomplice in these crimes, members of the public should always reject seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising fast and easy pay-outs for the use of their Singpass accounts, bank accounts, or allow their personal bank accounts to be used to receive and transfer money for others," the police said.

Members of the public are reminded that individuals will be held accountable if they are found to be linked to such crimes.

The police urged members of the public to contact them if they have information on such scams. They can do so by calling the police hotline on 1800-255-0000, or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.