Singapore, Cambodia police dismantle S$40m scam syndicate behind government official impersonation cases

A joint operation between Singapore and Cambodian police has dismantled a transnational scam syndicate responsible for over 330 cases of government official impersonation scams in Singapore, according to a statement by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on 10 September 2025.

The syndicate is believed to have caused losses exceeding S$40 million, with members based in both countries coordinating elaborate scams targeting victims in Singapore.

Twelve suspects arrested in Singapore

During coordinated raids in Singapore, twelve suspects were arrested — comprising eight Singaporean men, one Singaporean woman, two Malaysian men, and one Filipino woman.

Some of the suspects had recently returned from Cambodia, where they allegedly worked as scam callers for the syndicate.

According to SPF, syndicate members travelled to Cambodia willingly, earning commissions for each successful scam.

Raids were conducted at multiple locations, including residential apartments and hotel rooms across Singapore.

Parallel operation in Phnom Penh

At the same time, Cambodia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Department conducted coordinated operations in Phnom Penh, raiding a building and warehouse used by the syndicate.

Authorities recovered electronic devices, scam scripts, records of victims, and equipment used to make calls and manage financial transactions.

The operation also led to the seizure of more than S$2.5 million from bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, alongside 53 electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and routers.

Modus operandi: impersonating officials

The SPF said government official impersonation scams have surged since December 2024, with criminals using multi-stage deception techniques.

The scams typically began with calls from individuals posing as bank employees, warning victims of “suspicious transactions.”

The call would then be transferred to another scammer impersonating a government official, such as a police officer or Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) representative.

Victims were told their bank accounts were under investigation for alleged criminal activity and instructed to transfer funds for verification — which were instead sent to syndicate-controlled accounts.

Ongoing investigation and charges

The twelve arrested suspects will be charged in court on 12 September for being members of a locally linked organised criminal group.

If convicted, they face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to S$100,000, or both.

SPF added that other syndicate members remain at large, with Cambodian police continuing their pursuit.

“The SPF is working closely with foreign law enforcement agencies to establish their whereabouts and to arrest them,” the statement said.

Rising scam losses despite overall decline

According to SPF’s half-year statistics released on 30 August 2025, scams in Singapore caused S$456.4 million in losses between January and June — a decline from S$522.4 million during the same period in 2024.

However, large-value scams are on the rise. Nearly 1,000 people lost at least S$100,000 in the first half of 2025, compared with around 700 during the same period last year.

While smaller scams — those involving losses under S$5,000 — made up about 70 per cent of cases, the median loss remained significant at approximately S$1,500 per case.

Sharp rise in impersonation scams

Government official impersonation scams have more than tripled, jumping from 589 cases in the first half of 2024 to 1,762 cases in the same period this year.

Losses from these scams hit S$126.5 million, an 88 per cent increase from S$67.2 million the year before.

SPF urged the public to remain vigilant and reminded individuals not to transfer funds or disclose banking details to anyone claiming to be a government official.

“Legitimate authorities will never ask for money transfers or confidential information over the phone,” police said, encouraging victims to report suspicious calls via the ScamShield app or the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688.