Singapore — An 18-year-old became the target of a China Officials impersonation scam and was duped into transferring more than S$350,000 to the scammers. His parents were then told that their son was kidnapped.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a statement on Monday (Nov 22) that the scammers impersonated police officers from China and made an unsolicited call to the teen about a month ago.
The scammer first pretended to be an officer from the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) before transferring the call to two other impersonators claiming to be police officers from China.
They informed the victim that his details were used to open a bank account linked to money laundering transactions in China.
They told the victim not to reveal the so-called investigations to anyone and made him transfer more than S$350,000 as bail money to their bank accounts.
He was also told to take a video of himself with his hands placed behind his back which would assist in investigations, reported The Straits Times.
The video was then used to threaten the victim’s parents in China. The scammers demanded a ransom for the teen’s release.
According to SPF, a 24-year-old man was arrested last week for suspected involvement in the case. SPF highlighted that the man was also a victim of the same type of scam in the past.
It was reported that the man had approached the teen, handed him an envelope with S$100 and a mobile phone with a SIM card.
He told the teen to use the phone for communication and the cash for accommodations. The man had shown the victim a fake pass as proof.
A police report was lodged on Nov 17 after the parents received the video from an unknown individual.
“Officers from Clementi Police Division, Criminal Investigation Department, Police Intelligence Department and Commercial Affairs Department conducted extensive searches and investigations to locate the victim, who was eventually found to be safe and sound at a rented unit on Nov 18,” said SPF.
On Nov 19, SPF said in a press release that a total of 163 men and 73 women, aged between 14 and 78, are suspected to be involved in scams as scammers or money mules.
Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department and seven Police Land Divisions conducted a two-week operation between Nov 6 and 18.
The suspects are believed to be involved in more than 770 cases of scams, comprising mainly of Internet love scams, e-commerce scams, China Officials impersonation scams, Government Officials impersonation scams, investment scams, job scams, business email impersonation scams and loan scams, where victims lost more than S$6.1 million, said SPF.
The offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.
Under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, offenders can be imprisoned for up to 10 years, fined up to S$500,000 or both.
“The Police take a serious stance against any person who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” said SPF.
“To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or mobile lines as you will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes.”
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. /TISG
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