A joint operation by Singapore and Malaysia has successfully taken down a ‘fake friend’ scam syndicate consisting of five men from Malaysia.
To date, the syndicate has swindled Singaporeans of more than S$1.4 million.
The joint operation was conducted by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and the Johor Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) of the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a scam advisory.
They have since extradited the five men believed to be part of the syndicate to Singapore.
They were charged in court today (24 Jan).
In a scam advisory on Tuesday (23 Jan), the SPF said that the syndicate started their unlawful activities in June 2023.
It’s believed that Singaporean victims have made more than 500 reports as a result of the group.
These victims have lost over S$1.4 million in total.
On 16 Jan, officers from CCID/RMP executed a raid on two apartments in Johor, Malaysia.
Their efforts culminated in a successful arrest of five men aged between 19 to 36 who are believed to be a part of the scam syndicate.
Source: Singapore Police Force
The five Malaysians were handed a charge each on 24 Jan for cheating, reported The Straits Times.
The individuals involved are:
If found guilty, they may face up to 10 years in prison and a fine.
Source: Singapore Police Force
Their cases have been adjourned to 31 Jan.
‘Fake friend’ calls are a scam variant that involves scammers dialing victims via messaging platforms or phone calls, and pretending to be their friend or acquaintance, reported SPF in a 2023 advisory.
During the call, they would urge the victim to guess their identity.
After attempting to rekindle connections, they would request for financial assistance under the guise of friendship.
For example, they may send links to the victim and appeal for them to assist in day-to-day activities such as purchasing at a restaurant.
Many Singaporeans have fallen prey to the scam, with total losses amounting to minimally S$21.1 million from Jan to Nov 2023.
Following this, SPF reminds members of the public to remain alert to such scams. In particular, they urge the public to adopt these precautionary measures to safeguard themselves and their loved ones:
Anyone with queries or information to share regarding these scams can call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit an online report at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
Also read: 3 Men Operating Fake Friend Scam Call Centre In JB Arrested, Get Up To 43 Months’ Jail
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Featured image adapted from Singapore Police Force.
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