The Police have arrested a 36 year old man for his suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases.

The Police have arrested a 36-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of cheating cases.

Between November 2023 and August 2024, the Police received multiple reports from local banks on discrepancies discovered in documents submitted for application of bank loans. The loans had been disbursed prior to the discovery of the discrepancies and the repayments were mostly delayed or only partially made, thereby causing huge financial losses to these financial institutions. The total loans disbursed amounted to more than SGD$2 million.

While investigations were ongoing, the Police also received multiple reports from victims who discovered that loans had been obtained in their names from local banks without their knowledge or consent. Preliminary investigations revealed that the 36-year-old man is believed to have gained access to the victims' Singpass accounts through various deceptive tactics, such as posing as a bank representative promoting credit cards or a car dealer securing loans on their behalf. The man convinced the victims to unknowingly apply for loans using their Singpass accounts by scanning the QR codes or clicking on phishing links. Upon approval of loans by the banks, the funds were disbursed directly to the man's personal bank accounts.

Through follow-up investigations by both Central and Woodlands Police Divisions, the man was arrested on 15 August 2024. One handphone, two laptops and 17 SIM cards belonging to the man were seized as case exhibits.

The man will be charged in court on 17 August 2024 with the offence of cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence of cheating carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.

The Police take a serious stance against any person who may be involved in scams and frauds, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.