Seven individuals have been arrested for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated fraud scheme that exploited the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) e-services to illegally change registered home addresses. The arrests followed a series of unauthorized attempts which were uncovered by ICA.
Details of the Arrests
According to the police, the seven suspects—six men and one woman aged between 19 and 32—are believed to be responsible for at least 30 cases of identity manipulation. More than 60 police officers from both the Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department worked diligently in an island-wide operation from 11 January to 13 January 2024.
How the Scam Worked
- Perpetrators used stolen or compromised Singpass accounts.
- They fraudulently altered victims’ addresses using the “Others” module of the ICA’s service.
- A verification mailer would be sent to the victim’s registered address, allowing the scammer to gain access and confirm the address change.
In total, ICA recorded 87 unauthorized attempts to change residential addresses, with 69 successful alterations. This prompted significant scrutiny and swift action from the authorities.
Potential Legal Consequences
The suspects now face accusations under the Computer Misuse Act, specifically for the unlawful disclosure of access codes. The consequences are serious, carrying potential jail sentences of up to three years, fines up to $10,000, or both.
Security Measures Reinstated
In an update, ICA announced the resumption of its electronic change of address service for personal updates. However, additional security measures have been implemented:
- Face verification is now mandatory for accessing the system.
- The modules that allow changes by proxies remain suspended.
ICA is actively working to restore the identities of all affected individuals and is in contact with GovTech to assist those whose accounts were compromised.
Public Advisory
The police have issued a reminder that Singpass accounts are strictly for personal use. They urge the public to remain vigilant and avoid any illegal money-making schemes that require sharing personal information.
Authorities have emphasized the need for increased security awareness and caution when navigating digital platforms.