SINGAPORE: In a concerted effort to combat the growing threat of scams across Asia, law enforcement agencies from seven jurisdictions recently executed a month-long operation that culminated in the arrest of more than 1,800 individuals. This extensive operation, which took place from April 28 to May 28, involved collaboration between authorities from Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand, and Macau.

According to a news release from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) dated June 4, victims of these scam operations suffered cumulative losses exceeding S$289 million, equivalent to approximately US$225 million. These staggering figures highlight the severe impact of scam activities on the public and underscore the necessity for robust collaborative measures among nations to tackle this criminal enterprise.

The authorities did not stop at the arrests; they also initiated investigations into an additional 33,900 individuals suspected of involvement in various scam activities. The arrested individuals, whose ages ranged from as young as 14 to as old as 81, are believed to be connected to over 9,200 scam cases reported throughout the involved jurisdictions.

The types of scams identified in this operation were diverse, encompassing government official impersonation scams, investment schemes promising unrealistic returns, rental scams targeting vulnerable individuals, and internet love scams, which exploit emotions for financial gain.

As part of the operation, law enforcement agencies detected and subsequently froze more than 32,600 bank accounts that were suspected to be linked to these illicit activities. In total, authorities seized over S$26.2 million from these accounts, a crucial step in disrupting the financial networks that support scam operations.

Specifically focusing on Singapore, the operation led to the arrest of 106 individuals, while 545 more were subjected to investigations. The Singapore Police reported that these local suspects were involved in more than 1,300 scam cases, resulting in monetary losses of approximately S$39.3 million. Additionally, over S$7.69 million was seized from 714 frozen bank accounts during this crackdown.

Authorities have emphasized that investigations regarding all suspects arrested are ongoing. The police are looking into various criminal offenses, including abetment to cheating and the unlawful disclosure of passwords or access codes tied to the national digital identity service, which is critical in safeguarding personal information and preventing further scams.

This operation not only sheds light on the extensive nature of scam operations in Asia but also illustrates the importance of inter-agency cooperation in fighting such crimes. As scams continue to evolve, it is evident that a united front is essential to protect individuals and uphold public trust.