Two Taiwanese men arrested for impersonating foreign police officer, scamming victims of $100,000
Two Taiwanese men, aged 23 and 25, have been arrested by the Singapore police for allegedly impersonating a foreign police officer to scam victims of money.
On 4 Aug, the police received a report from a 31-year-old woman who had received a call from a person claiming to be a police officer. The victim was told that she was being investigated for money laundering offences. The call was then transferred to another person who identified himself as a police officer from a foreign country.
The victim was then instructed to go to a website and key in her bank credentials. Later, she discovered that her bank account was accessed illegally without her knowledge and about S$45,000 had been transferred to an unknown bank account.
The two suspects were identified and arrested on Tuesday (8 Aug). Preliminary investigations revealed that the duo are believed to be involved in at least six other similar cases in which the victims were scammed of a total of about S$100,000.
The suspects will be charged in court on Thursday (10 Aug). If found guilty, they face a jail term of up to five years, a fine or both.
If members of the public receive unsolicited calls, especially from unknown parties, the police advise the following:
Ignore the calls. If you receive a suspicious call from a local number, hang up, wait five minutes, then call the number back to check on the validity of the request.
Ignore instructions to remit or transfer money. Government agencies will not inform members of the public to make a payment through a telephone call, especially to a third-party bank account.
Refrain from giving out personal information and bank details
Call a trusted friend or relative, or inform the police if you are in doubt.
The police also said that members of the public should take the following precautions to avoid being recruited as money mules:
Do not give personal particulars or bank account details to strangers.
Decline any request by acquaintance for money transfers
Report to the police and the bank immediately if you have received unknown funds in your account.
If you are approached by anyone who claimed to be a Police officer, ask for the warrant card. If in doubt, dial 999 for urgent police assistance.
Related articles:
