Govt offers consular help to 9 Singaporeans thought to be caught up in overseas scam syndicates

SINGAPORE: Since 2022, the Singapore Government has extended consular assistance to nine Singaporeans thought to have been deceived by scam syndicates into working overseas, said Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam on 4 November 2025.

Only three of the nine accepted the Government’s offer, which included help to facilitate their return to Singapore and the issuance of necessary travel documents.

Shanmugam, who also serves as Minister for Home Affairs, clarified that there was not enough evidence to determine that these individuals were held captive or exploited by overseas scam syndicates.

His comments came in response to a parliamentary question from Fadli Fawzi, Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC, who asked about Singaporeans ensnared by overseas scam job offers and whether assistance was provided to those seeking to escape such situations.

In April, Shanmugam had similarly responded to a question by Christopher de Souza, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. Then, he said that five Singaporeans had received consular assistance after authorities were alerted that they might have been exploited at scam centres abroad. None accepted help at that time.

The issue of cross-border scam operations resurfaced recently when, on 29 October, the Singapore Police issued arrest warrants for 27 Singaporeans and seven Malaysians allegedly involved in a scam syndicate operating from Cambodia.

According to the police, the group is suspected of conducting 438 scam cases that collectively caused losses of at least S$41 million.

The syndicate is believed to be led by two brothers, Ng Wei Liang, 32, and Ng Wei Kang, 33, alongside Wei Liang’s girlfriend, Christy Neo Wei En, 29.

Reports indicate that Ng Wei Liang’s cousin, Lester Ng Jing Hai, 29, is also a senior member in the organisation’s operations.

Ng Wei Kang, Neo, and Ng Jing Hai were charged in September under the Organised Crime Act and were denied bail on 2 October. Twelve others, including two Malaysians and a Filipina, faced charges at the same time.

Authorities said the group specialised in impersonation scams, in which fraudsters posed as bank officials or government representatives.

Victims were deceived into believing that their bank accounts were implicated in criminal investigations and were persuaded to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the syndicate “for investigation purposes.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Singapore Police Force have reiterated their cooperation with regional law enforcement agencies under the ASEAN framework to combat such transnational scam networks.

Shanmugam previously noted that scam syndicates exploit vulnerable individuals through deceptive job advertisements and coercive working conditions, and that Singapore continues to monitor developments closely to prevent citizens from being drawn into these illicit operations.