Singapore Police Investigate 254 Suspected Scammers and Money Mules in Islandwide Operation

Singapore Police are investigating 254 people following a two-week islandwide enforcement operation targeting individuals suspected of involvement in scams either as scammers or money mules.

The operation was conducted between 27 August and 9 September 2026 by officers from the Singapore Police Force's Cyber Command and all seven Police Land Divisions. The 254 people comprise 151 men and 103 women aged between 15 and 79. They are believed to be connected to more than 652 reported scam cases in which victims lost approximately S$7.5 million.

The cases identified during the operation mainly involved e-commerce scams, phishing scams, job scams, government official impersonation scams, investment scams and lucky draw scams. The reported losses represent the amounts that victims were reported to have lost in the cases linked to the individuals under investigation.

The individuals are being investigated for suspected offences including cheating, money laundering and providing payment services without a licence.

Under Section 420 of Singapore's Penal Code 1871, cheating carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a fine. Money laundering offences under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 can carry imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both. Operating a business providing payment services without a licence under Section 5 of the Payment Services Act 2019 can carry a fine of up to S$125,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.

The investigation covers individuals suspected of acting as money mules as well as people suspected of directly participating in scam operations. Money mules can facilitate scams by allowing their bank accounts to be used to receive or transfer criminal proceeds and by providing other resources used by scam networks.

The Singapore Police Force stated that scammers and members or recruiters of scam syndicates can face mandatory caning of at least six strokes, up to a maximum of 24 strokes. Scam mules who assist scammers by laundering proceeds, providing SIM cards or providing Singpass credentials can face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes for specified offences.

The operation is part of a series of enforcement actions conducted by Singapore authorities against people suspected of facilitating scams and the movement of scam proceeds.

In a previous two-week operation conducted from 13 to 26 August 2026, police investigated 231 people suspected of involvement in scams as scammers or money mules. Those individuals were believed to be connected to more than 650 cases involving approximately S$4.1 million in reported losses.

Another operation conducted between 18 June and 1 July 2026 resulted in 230 people being investigated for suspected involvement in more than 713 scam cases. Reported losses in those cases were approximately S$9 million. The individuals were investigated for suspected cheating, money laundering and providing payment services without a licence.

The latest operation involved all seven Police Land Divisions together with the Cyber Command. The Cyber Command was established as part of Singapore's efforts to bring together capabilities relating to counter-scam and cybercrime operations, investigations and intelligence.

The Singapore Police Force has also been working with financial institutions to identify and disrupt scam-related transactions. Between July and August 2026, the Anti-Scam Centre worked with five banks in a two-month operation that disrupted more than 400 scam attempts and prevented potential losses of more than S$46 million. The operation involved DBS, UOB, OCBC, Standard Chartered Singapore and GXS and used robotic process automation technology.

The latest enforcement operation also comes after the introduction of measures allowing restrictions to be placed on individuals involved in money-mule activities.

Under Singapore's Facility Restriction Framework, people involved in mule-related offences may face restrictions on banking services and mobile-line subscriptions. The framework can apply to individuals who are under investigation and assessed to be at risk, as well as people who have received warnings, composition sums, prosecutions or convictions.

The restrictions are intended to prevent continued use of banking services and mobile subscriptions in circumstances where authorities determine that those facilities could be used to facilitate scams. The framework covers individuals involved in different types of mule-related activity.

The police have also identified the provision of SIM cards and Singpass credentials as forms of assistance that can be used by scam networks. Individuals suspected of providing these resources can face investigation under the relevant Singapore legislation.

The scams covered by the latest investigation include several common categories. E-commerce scams involve fraudulent transactions relating to goods or services, while phishing scams use deceptive communications to obtain information or induce victims to transfer money. Job scams involve fraudulent employment offers, while government official impersonation scams involve individuals posing as government officials or representatives. Investment and lucky draw scams were also among the categories identified in the investigation.

The age range of those under investigation extends from 15 to 79. Of the 254 individuals, 151 are men and 103 are women. Their involvement is being investigated rather than established through completed criminal proceedings.

The approximately S$7.5 million in reported losses relates to more than 652 scam cases associated with the individuals under investigation. The police have not stated that every person under investigation was involved in every case or that all 254 individuals were directly responsible for the reported losses.

Singapore has recorded a series of police operations targeting both scammers and money mules during 2026. The repeated operations have involved individuals suspected of providing bank accounts, mobile numbers, SIM cards and other facilities to scam networks, as well as people suspected of directly participating in fraudulent schemes.

In addition to enforcement activity, the Singapore Police Force has continued to work with banks to identify transactions associated with scams. During the first half of 2026, the Anti-Scam Centre and its partners prevented potential scam losses of approximately S$127.1 million through proactive interventions. During the same period, 16,821 scam cases were reported, with total reported losses of S$456.4 million.

Investment scams accounted for the largest reported financial losses during the first six months of 2026, with S$169.8 million lost across 2,256 cases. Job scams accounted for S$34.9 million in reported losses across 2,247 cases during the same period.

The September enforcement operation concluded on 9 September. The 254 individuals remain under investigation, and the police have not indicated that all investigations have been completed.

The Singapore Police Force has stated that individuals found to be linked to scam-related offences will be held accountable under the relevant laws. The investigation concerns suspected participation in scams, money laundering, the provision of payment services without a licence and other offences depending on the conduct of individual suspects.

The latest operation is the most recent in a series of islandwide actions conducted by Singapore authorities during 2026 against scammers and money mules. It involved 254 people, more than 652 suspected scam cases and reported victim losses of approximately S$7.5 million. Investigations into the individuals remain ongoing.

By fLEXI tEAM