8 individuals to be charged for providing fraudulently registered SIM cards for money

A total of eight individuals, aged between 17 and 26, will be charged in court between Sept 14 and 18 for allegedly providing fraudulently registered SIM cards in return for money.

The seven men and one woman purportedly received between $10 and $15 for each registered SIM card.

Police said in a news release on Sunday (Sept 13) that the suspects had handed over multiple SIM cards, registered under their names, to a criminal syndicate.

They were allegedly instructed to sign up and purchase SIM cards in bulk across different retailers before handing them over to their couriers.

Those convicted of knowingly providing a registered SIM card to another person to facilitate a crime for any gain will face a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a jail term of up to three years.

The police said they take a serious view of SIM cards being misused as a conduit for crimes and will not hesitate to take action against individuals who misuse their eSIM/SIM card via reselling, allowing others to use their SIM cards, helping other individuals to register or holding multiple SIM cards without a legitimate reason.

They added that criminal syndicates have been exploiting local SIM cards and eSIMs as a channel of communication for scams, unlicensed moneylending and vice, among other illicit activities.

"Anyone found to be linked to such crimes will be held accountable," the police warned.

Scam mules will face discretionary caning

Scammers and members or recruiters of scam syndicates also face mandatory caning of at least six strokes if convicted. Those who enable scammers by laundering scam proceeds face discretionary caning.

Those involved in mule-related offences may also face restrictions on banking services and mobile line subscriptions.

Members of the public who have information on anyone involved in the fraudulent registration of SIM cards can call the police hotline on 1800-255-000. They may also submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness .

9月14日至18日期间，共有8名年龄在17岁至26岁之间的个人因涉嫌提供欺诈性注册的SIM卡以换取金钱而被起诉。

据称，这七名男子和一名女子每注册一张 SIM 卡，就能获得 10 至 15 美元的报酬。

警方在周日（9 月 13 日）发布的新闻稿中表示，嫌疑人已将多张以他们名字注册的 SIM 卡交给犯罪集团。

据称，他们被指示在不同的零售商处注册并批量购买 SIM 卡，然后再将 SIM 卡交给快递员。

任何人明知故犯地向他人提供已注册的 SIM 卡以协助犯罪并从中获利，将被处以最高 10,000 美元的罚款和/或最高三年的监禁。

警方表示，他们非常重视SIM卡被滥用为犯罪工具的行为，并将毫不犹豫地对那些通过转售、允许他人使用其SIM卡、帮助他人注册或无正当理由持有多张SIM卡等方式滥用其eSIM/SIM卡的个人采取行动。

他们还补充说，犯罪集团一直在利用本地 SIM 卡和 eSIM 作为通信渠道，进行诈骗、无证放贷和卖淫等非法活动。

警方警告说：“任何被发现与此类犯罪有关的人都将受到追究。”

诈骗犯将面临酌情鞭笞。

诈骗犯、诈骗团伙成员或招募者，一旦被定罪，将面临至少六下鞭刑的强制处以鞭笞。那些通过洗钱帮助诈骗犯的人，则可能面临酌情判处的鞭刑。

参与骡子相关犯罪的人也可能面临银行服务和手机线路订阅方面的限制。

公众如知悉任何参与SIM卡欺诈注册的人员信息，可拨打警方热线1800-255-000。也可登录www.police.gov.sg/i-witness在线提交信息。