FOUR Malaysian nationals, including a woman, have been arrested and charged in Singapore for their alleged involvement in three cases of government impersonation scams that caused total losses of S$1.17 million, or about RM4.1 million.
The suspects, comprising three men and one woman aged between 24 and 30, were charged in a Singapore court on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Singapore Police Force.
In the first case, reported on Oct 22 last year, a victim was tricked into transferring more than S$1.1 million, about RM3.85 million, after scammers posed as government officials.
Police investigations found that the funds were channelled through a complex payment network before being withdrawn as cash via automated teller machines in Malaysia.
Following extensive investigations, officers from Singapore’s Anti-Scam Command, working closely with the Royal Malaysia Police, identified and arrested two Malaysian men aged 24 and 30 on Jan 20.
Preliminary findings revealed that the pair allegedly assisted the scam syndicate by withdrawing cash in Malaysia using payment cards linked to mule accounts before handing the money to unknown individuals as part of a money laundering operation.
In the second case, reported on Jan 19, a victim was deceived by callers impersonating bank officers and officials from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, leading the victim to believe he was under investigation for money laundering.
The victim withdrew S$50,000, about RM175,000, in cash and handed it to a 28-year-old Malaysian man, who was arrested at the Woodlands Checkpoint later that day while attempting to leave Singapore.
In the third case, also reported on Jan 19, an elderly victim handed over S$15,000, about RM52,500, to a 26-year-old Malaysian woman after being threatened with arrest. The woman was alleged to have impersonated an enforcement authority.
Police intervened before the remaining S$9,000, about RM31,500, could be handed over, leading to the woman’s arrest.
The Singapore Police Force said the suspects in the second and third cases are believed to be part of cross-border scam syndicates tasked with collecting cash from victims before passing it on to other members of the operation.
The two men linked to the first case were charged with conspiracy to commit unauthorised access to bank computer systems under Singapore’s Computer Misuse Act.
The other two suspects face charges under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, which carries penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$500,000, about RM1.75 million, or both.
The SPF stressed that it is closely monitoring the rising trend of Malaysians travelling to Singapore to assist scam syndicates, particularly in the collection of cash, gold and other valuables.
“Police take a serious stance against anyone involved in scams and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” the statement said, adding that mandatory caning for certain scam-related offences was introduced in Singapore from Dec 30 last year. - January 22, 2026
