Overview
- The arrests were made in a four-day operation from Oct 28 to Oct 31, with suspects aged 15 to 52 and nine more people aged 16 to 55 under investigation.
- Investigators say scammers generated YouTrip PayNow QR top-up codes that, once scanned with banking apps, sent victims’ funds directly into syndicate wallets, with cash largely withdrawn from overseas ATMs the same day and some money rapidly transferred online.
- Suspected mules allegedly sold or rented their YouTrip accounts and in some cases handed over payment cards and login credentials to enable withdrawals.
- Recruitment was pushed through Telegram offers of quick cash, and police say they have disrupted 335 Telegram monikers advertising the buying or renting of accounts since September.
- Authorities have activated October measures to restrict suspected mules’ access to banking, telecom and Singpass or Corppass services, and in a separate case 17 people will be charged next week over scams linked to more than S$1.6 million in losses.