Singapore Police, Hong Kong Police and INTERPOL join forces to bust fraud syndicate after S$17.9 million heist

SINGAPORE: A sophisticated transnational money laundering syndicate with tentacles in Hong Kong has been successfully dismantled in a thrilling international operation.

This monumental achievement is the result of a joint effort by police forces around the world: the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and INTERPOL.

Technical Support Scam

The syndicate was notorious for its involvement in laundering the proceeds of various scams, including the infamous tech support fraud that plagued Singapore and other fraudulent activities in Hong Kong.

Between January and July 2024, the SPF received a staggering 185 reports of tech support scams, resulting in losses of over S$17.9 million. These scams were cleverly crafted, starting with pop-up notifications on victims’ devices, falsely warning of malware infections.

The scammers posed as technical support employees from reputable companies like Microsoft or Apple and tricked victims into giving them remote access to their devices.

This access was abused to make unauthorized transactions from victims’ bank accounts.

Successful raids

The joint investigations and intelligence sharing between the SPF Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) and HKPF resulted in a series of raids in Hong Kong between 9 and 12 August 2024.

These operations resulted in the arrest of the syndicate’s mastermind, three members and three money mules. A significant haul of HK$300,000 in cash and more than 60 bank cards were seized during the raids.

Further investigation led to the recovery of an additional HK$1.3 million in criminal proceeds.

In a parallel move, a 23-year-old man was arrested in Singapore for his role in the money laundering activities linked to the syndicate. Investigations into this aspect are ongoing.

The SPF stressed the crucial importance of international cooperation in combating transnational crimes. They also advised the public to exercise caution when dealing with unsolicited requests for technical support.

If you fall victim to such scams, authorities advise you to take immediate action, such as turning off devices and contacting your bank.

Global Police Forces vs. Transnational Crime

David Chew, Managing Director of CAD, emphasised the syndicate’s approach and the importance of international cooperation in this operation:

“The transnational tech support fraud syndicate targeted unsuspecting victims in several jurisdictions, including Singapore.

The fake pop-up was a ploy to obtain the victim’s online banking credentials. By abusing remote access software, the scammers were able to remotely control the victim’s computer and perform unauthorized banking transactions.

The criminal proceeds of this tech support scam were laundered through Hong Kong. Cross-border cooperation, facilitated by INTERPOL, was key to dismantling this foreign syndicate and denying them the fruits of their labour.”

This successful operation is a testament to the power of international cooperation in the fight against transnational crime. It also sends a strong message to criminals that their actions will not go unpunished, wherever they operate.

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