- Five men, aged 22 to 27, arrested for suspected money mule activities involving bank accounts and scam proceeds.
- Police investigations uncovered over S$76,000 in scam money transferred via more than ten bank accounts.
- Offenders face up to two years in jail, a fine, or both under the Computer Misuse Act.
Police have cracked down on a group running a money mule scheme, with arrests made, bank accounts tracked, and strong warnings sent out to the public.
Overview of Money Mule Arrests in Singapore
In a press release by SPF, five men aged 22 to 27 were arrested for suspected involvement in money mule activities.
These activities include helping others get unauthorised access to computer materials and money laundering.
Money mules are often used to transfer scam proceeds through several bank accounts to hide illegal money.
As quoted in SPF, “The Police have arrested five men, aged 22 to 27, for their suspected involvement in money mule activities, which include facilitating unauthorised access to computer materials and money laundering.”
Police Investigation Findings
According to SPF, the first man, aged 23, was arrested on 28 May 2025.
Police say he allegedly asked different people for 10+ bank accounts.
He is said to have paid a commission for each account given up.
The accounts were later used by his partners to receive scam money.
- Over S$76,000 in scam proceeds tracked.
- Accounts supplied to other suspects in the group.
The Central Police Division led ground checks and detailed investigations to find accomplices.
An islandwide operation led to four more arrests on 29 May 2025.
The four men are also aged between 22 and 27.
As quoted in SPF, “The 23-year-old man was arrested on 28 May 2025 and preliminary investigations revealed that he had allegedly solicited more than ten bank accounts from different individuals, by paying them a commission for every bank account relinquished.”
A 26-year-old man from the group is now helping police with ongoing investigations.
Charges and Penalties for money mule Offences
The main charge is facilitating unauthorised access to computer material.
This is an offence under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993.
The 23-year-old to be charged on 30 May 2025; three others on 31 May 2025.
- Punishable with up to two years in jail.
- The court may also order a fine.
- Conviction can bring both a jail term and a fine.
Police take these financial crime cases very seriously.
According to SPF, “The Police take a serious stance against any person who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
How to Spot and Protect Yourself from money mule Schemes
Money mules often get involved without knowing the crime’s full scale.
Common red flags for money mules include:
- Requests to use your bank account to receive or send money.
- Promises of quick and easy money if you let someone use your bank account.
- Contacts from strangers or online friends offering money for your account details.
- Any request to share passwords or bank log-in details over phone or text.
To stay safe and avoid being involved in money laundering, never let others use your bank account for free or for payment.
Government officials will never ask you to transfer funds or share your bank details over the phone.
If you are not sure about a request or payment, use these contact points:
- Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.
- Visit the ScamShield website for more scam information.
- If you know about a scam, call the police hotline at 1800-255 0000 or submit information online at i-Witness.
- Emergency calls: 999; SMS for emergency: 70999.
Do you believe stricter punishments would help reduce money mule and financial crime cases in Singapore? Agree or Disagree?
