'Speed is critical': SPF senior investigator on recovering scam funds before they leave Singapore“速度至关重要”：新加坡警察部队高级调查员谈如何在诈骗资金离开新加坡前将其追回
Scammers can move stolen money across borders quickly, making speed critical for investigators trying to recover victims' funds."Speed is critical," said Inspector Harbhajan Kaur, a senior investigation officer with the Singapore Police Force's (SPF) Anti-Scam Investigation Branch and has worked in the police force for close to 30 years.The 46-year-old made the remarks during a media interview with Cyber Command...
Scammers can move stolen money across borders quickly, making speed critical for investigators trying to recover victims' funds.
"Speed is critical," said Inspector Harbhajan Kaur, a senior investigation officer with the Singapore Police Force's (SPF) Anti-Scam Investigation Branch and has worked in the police force for close to 30 years.
The 46-year-old made the remarks during a media interview with Cyber Command officers at the Police Cantonment Complex on Wednesday (Sept 16) , weeks after the SPF operationalised the unit on July 3.
She is responsible for conducting swift investigations into a wide range of scams, identifying scam networks, disrupting their activities, and tracing and recovering illicit proceeds.
Cyber Command takes broader approach
The unit, which has a total of 280 staff, brings together key investigative, operational and intelligence capabilities from across the SPF to strengthen Singapore's response to cyber threats.
It provides a full-spectrum response, from dismantling criminal syndicates to raising public awareness about scams.
The scale of the problem remains significant. In the first half of 2026, Singapore recorded about 16,800 scam cases, with victims losing about $411 million.
Investment scams accounted for the largest amount lost among scam types.
The SPF said Cyber Command will also work with public and private stakeholders locally and internationally to combat scams and cybercrime.
Its new Cyber Operations Centre will use technology to detect and disrupt online criminal activities, including scam enablers, in real time.
Scam investigations are ultimately about people
For investigators like Inspector Harbhajan, the closer integration enables officers to work more closely across different functions, facilitating better information-sharing and coordination when responding to cybercrime and scam threats, she said.
"Scam cases are inherently challenging due to their transnational nature and the speed at which funds can be moved."
Investigators use interviews, recovery and analysis of data, including deleted files and communication logs, as well as technological tools to trace illicit proceeds and identify syndicate members.
She said that when funds remain in local bank accounts, police can work with financial institutions to freeze them almost immediately, but it becomes difficult to trace or recover them once they leave Singapore.
Inspector Harbhajan also pointed to an increasing trend of Malaysians travelling to Singapore to assist scam syndicates by collecting cash and valuables from victims or making cash withdrawals from ATMs using relinquished bank cards.
These money mules can enter and leave Singapore on the same day, making the funds harder to trace, she said.
She said successful interventions and recoveries represent real people and families whose hardship has been reduced.
"Scam investigations are ultimately about people," she said, adding that helping victims and preventing others from falling prey to scams makes the work challenging but rewarding.
Those unsure if they have encountered a scam can call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.
helmy.saat@asiaone.com
诈骗分子可以迅速将偷来的钱转移到国外，因此对于试图追回受害者资金的调查人员来说，速度至关重要。
“速度至关重要，”新加坡警察部队反诈骗调查科高级调查官哈尔巴詹·考尔督察说道，他已在警队工作近 30 年。
这位 46 岁的男子于 9 月 16 日星期三在警察总部接受网络指挥部官员的媒体采访时发表了上述言论。此前几周，新加坡警察部队于 7 月 3 日正式启动了该部门。
她负责对各种诈骗案件进行迅速调查，识别诈骗网络，扰乱其活动，并追踪和追回非法所得。
网络司令部采取更广泛的策略
该部门共有 280 名员工，汇集了新加坡警察部队的关键调查、行动和情报能力，以加强新加坡应对网络威胁的能力。
它提供全方位的应对措施，从瓦解犯罪集团到提高公众对诈骗的认识。
问题的严重程度依然不容忽视。2026年上半年，新加坡记录在案的诈骗案件约有16800起，受害者损失约4.11亿美元。
在所有诈骗类型中，投资诈骗造成的损失金额最大。
新加坡警察部队表示，网络司令部还将与本地和国际上的公共和私营利益相关者合作，打击诈骗和网络犯罪。
其新建的网络运营中心将利用技术实时检测和打击网络犯罪活动，包括诈骗协助者。
诈骗调查归根结底是关于人的。
她表示，对于像哈尔巴詹督察这样的调查人员来说，更紧密的整合使警官们能够跨职能部门更紧密地合作，从而在应对网络犯罪和诈骗威胁时更好地共享信息和协调。
“诈骗案件本身就极具挑战性，因为它们具有跨国性质，而且资金转移速度极快。”
调查人员利用访谈、数据恢复和分析（包括已删除的文件和通信日志）以及技术工具来追踪非法所得并识别犯罪集团成员。
她说，如果资金仍留在本地银行账户中，警方可以与金融机构合作，几乎立即冻结这些资金，但一旦资金离开新加坡，就很难追踪或追回。
哈尔巴詹督察还指出，越来越多的马来西亚人前往新加坡协助诈骗团伙，他们通过从受害者那里收取现金和贵重物品，或者使用被遗弃的银行卡从自动取款机取款来达到目的。
她说，这些洗钱者可以当天进出新加坡，使得资金更难追踪。
她说，成功的干预和康复案例代表着真实的人和家庭，他们的困境得到了减轻。
“诈骗调查归根结底是为了人，”她说道，并补充说，帮助受害者和防止其他人落入诈骗陷阱，使得这项工作充满挑战，但也很有成就感。
如果您不确定自己是否遇到了诈骗，可以拨打 24/7 ScamShield 热线 1799。
helmy.saat@asiaone.com