In a groundbreaking collaborative effort, law enforcement agencies from seven Asian territories have successfully apprehended over 1,800 individuals during a month-long anti-scam operation. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced this significant achievement on 4 June 2024, highlighting the serious nature of scam activities across the region.
The Operation: A Unified Front
The operation, running from 28 April to 28 May 2024, saw collaboration between law enforcement teams from Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand, and Macao. Together, these agencies investigated a staggering 33,900 individuals aged between 14 and 81, believed to be involved in more than 9,200 scam cases.
- Total losses reported: Over S$289 million (US$225 million)
- Bank accounts frozen: More than 32,600
- Total amount seized: Over S$26.2 million
Singapore’s Involvement
Specifically in Singapore, the operation resulted in 106 arrests and 545 investigations related to local scams. These suspects were involved in over 1,300 cases that caused losses of approximately S$39.3 million—an eye-watering amount indeed!
Alongside these figures, SPF reported that more than S$7.69 million was seized from 714 frozen bank accounts linked to the scam. This proactive measure has played a vital role in mitigating the effects of scams on victims.
Impersonation Scams: A Major Threat
Interestingly, towards the start of the operation, SPF’s Anti-Scam Centre dismantled two impersonation scams involving victims being duped into transferring S$25,000 and S$45,000 to local bank accounts controlled by scammers.
The swift response from Singaporean authorities, aided by Malaysia’s National Scam Response Centre, helped recover over S$19,000 from the fraudulent bank accounts in Malaysia.
Call for Continued International Cooperation
David Chew, Director of SPF’s Commercial Affairs Department, emphasised the necessity of international partnership in combating scam syndicates: “A transnational threat requires a transnational response. By uniting our enforcement capabilities, we create a formidable front against these scams.”
SPF notes that Operation FRONTIER+ epitomises this alliance, involving ten jurisdictions aiming to disrupt and dismantle transnational scam networks. Like a well-oiled machine, this collaboration builds a strong defence to ensure citizen safety against the cunning tactics of scammers.