Two men to be charged after woman loses over $23k to scammers posing as Harvey Norman, MAS staff

If found guilty, they could face up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, or both.

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Published Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM

Updated Oct 20, 2026, 11:30 PM

Two Malaysian men will be charged on Oct 21 for a government official impersonation scam that cheated a Singapore victim out of about $23,500 in cash and valuables.

Police say the men, aged 25 to 26, were scam runners. They collected cash and jewellery for a transnational syndicate and were arrested after follow-up checks.

The police warn of more Malaysian scam mules entering Singapore. They remind the public that officials will never ask for bank details, screen sharing, or cash transfers.

SINGAPORE – Two Malaysian men are set to be charged on Oct 21 after a woman in Singapore lost about $23,500 in cash and valuables to scammers.

The duo, aged 25 and 26 , are believed to be involved in a government officials impersonation scam, the police said in a statement on Oct 20.

The police said they received a report on Oct 15 that a 40-year-old woman was contacted about a delivery on Oct 13 by a person claiming to represent a Harvey Norman employee .

When the woman denied making any purchases, she was informed that her identity might have been misused and a police report would be filed on her behalf.

On Oct 14, a second person, also claiming to represent Harvey Norman , contacted the victim and guided her to cancel the orders.

She was also advised to reach out to a purported Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) staff via a directed WhatsApp number .

After doing so, the woman spoke with two individuals who instructed her to share her screen and log into her bank account s under the pretext of checking on them.

She was further instructed to disclose her internet banking credentials and one-time passwords, approve all transactions conducted in her bank accounts, photograph her jewellery and cash, and hand them over to a representative for further checks.

She then met an unknown man outside her residence and handed over $3,500 in cash and about $20,000 in foreign currency and jewellery .

The police said the woman only realised that she had been scammed after she visited MAS in person and was informed that none of the individuals she had been communicating with were legitimate MAS staff.

Officers from the police’s Cyber Command later identified the man who met the victim and arrested him on Oct 19, along with a male accomplice .

The accomplice was found in possession of 17 pieces of gold jewellery believed to be scam proceeds .

A follow-up raid at a budget hotel led to the recovery of cash amounting to $55,000 and 24 pieces of gold jewellery , the police said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the two men had been tasked by alleged members of a transnational scam syndicate to collect valuables or cash from scam victims and hand them over to other unknown individuals.

The two men are expected to be charged in court on Oct 21 with abetment by conspiracy to assist another person to retain benefits from criminal conduct .

If found guilty, they could face up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $500,000, or both .

In their statement, the police said they continue to observe an increasing trend of Malaysian nationals travelling to Singapore to assist scam syndicates in collecting cash, gold and valuables from scam victims.

Scammers and members or recruiters of scam syndicates will face mandatory caning of at least six strokes, up to a maximum of 24 strokes , they said.

Scam mules who enable scammers by laundering scam proceeds will face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes .

The police reminded members of the public that they should not transfer cash, jewellery or other valuables to unknown people, s hare their device screens or disclose their login credentials.

They also warn against leaving money or valuables at a location for collection.

Members of the public who have any information on such crimes or are in doubt can call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness

Those looking for more information on scams can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799.

如果罪名成立，他们可能面临最高 10 年监禁、最高 50 万美元罚款，或两者并罚。

ST 照片：林耀辉

发布于2026年10月20日晚上11:30

更新于2026年10月20日晚上11:30

两名马来西亚男子将于 10 月 21 日被控冒充政府官员诈骗，该诈骗案导致一名新加坡受害者损失约 23,500 美元现金和贵重物品。

警方称，这几名年龄在25岁至26岁之间的男子是诈骗跑腿。他们为一个跨国犯罪集团收取现金和珠宝，并在后续调查中被捕。

警方警告称，有更多马来西亚诈骗犯进入新加坡。他们提醒公众，官方人员绝不会索要银行账户信息、屏幕共享或现金转账。

新加坡——两名马来西亚男子将于10月21日被控告，此前一名新加坡女子被骗走约23500美元现金和贵重物品。

警方在 10 月 20 日的一份声明中表示，这两名年龄分别为 25 岁和 26 岁的男子被认为参与了一起冒充政府官员的诈骗活动。

警方称，他们于 10 月 15 日接到报案，一名 40 岁女子在 10 月 13 日接到一名自称是 Harvey Norman 员工的人的电话，询问有关送货事宜。

当该女子否认进行过任何购物时，她被告知她的身份可能被盗用，并将代表她向警方报案。

10 月 14 日，第二个自称代表 Harvey Norman 的人联系了受害者，并指导她取消订单。

她还被建议通过指定的 WhatsApp 号码联系一位自称是新加坡金融管理局 (MAS) 工作人员的人。

之后，这名女子与两人交谈，两人指示她共享屏幕并登录她的银行账户，理由是要查看账户信息。

她还被指示披露其网上银行凭证和一次性密码，批准其银行账户中的所有交易，拍摄其珠宝和现金的照片，并将它们交给一名代表进行进一步检查。

随后，她在住所外与一名陌生男子见面，并交出了 3500 美元现金、约 20000 美元外币和珠宝。

警方表示，这名女子直到亲自前往马来西亚航空（MAS）后才意识到自己被骗了，因为她被告知之前与她联系的那些人都不是马来西亚航空的合法员工。

警方网络指挥部的警员后来确认了与受害者见面的男子身份，并于 10 月 19 日将其逮捕，同时被捕的还有一名男性同伙。

同伙被发现持有 17 件黄金首饰，据信是诈骗所得。

警方表示，随后对一家廉价酒店的突击搜查，缴获了 55,000 美元现金和 24 件黄金首饰。

初步调查显示，这两名男子受跨国诈骗集团成员的指使，从诈骗受害者手中收取贵重物品或现金，然后将其交给其他身份不明的人。

预计这两名男子将于 10 月 21 日在法庭上被控串谋教唆他人从犯罪行为中获利。

如果罪名成立，他们可能面临最高 10 年监禁、最高 50 万美元罚款，或两者并罚。

警方在声明中表示，他们持续观察到越来越多的马来西亚公民前往新加坡，协助诈骗团伙从诈骗受害者手中收取现金、黄金和贵重物品。

他们表示，诈骗犯以及诈骗团伙的成员或招募者将面临至少六下、最多二十四下鞭笞的强制鞭刑。

为诈骗分子洗钱的“洗钱骡子”将面临最高 12 下鞭刑的酌情处罚。

警方提醒公众，不要将现金、珠宝或其他贵重物品交给陌生人，不要共享设备屏幕或泄露登录凭证。

他们还警告不要将钱财或贵重物品留在指定地点等待收取。

公众如知悉此类犯罪信息或有任何疑问，可拨打警方热线1800-255-0000，或登录www.police.gov.sg/i-witness在线提交信息。

如需了解更多关于诈骗的信息，请访问 www.scamshield.gov.sg 或拨打 24/7 ScamShield 热线 1799。