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A 15-YEAR-OLD Malaysian boy is expected to be charged in court today for his alleged involvement in scam operations that targeted victims seeking permanent residency, in a case that underscores the growing use of young intermediaries in cross-border fraud.
According to Singapore police, the teenager is suspected of acting as a cash mule in at least two fraudulent schemes that collectively netted S$9,700 (about RM38,364).
The case, reported by The Straits Times, centres on scams in which victims were deceived into believing they were making legitimate payments linked to residency applications.
Two victims were allegedly tricked into handing over S$7,500 and S$2,200 to an individual dispatched by the scammers.
They only realised they had been defrauded after verifying the status of their applications with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
Investigators believe the teenager had been directed by unknown parties to collect the money before passing it on, suggesting he may have been operating under instruction.
Authorities are also examining whether he is connected to other similar cases.
He is expected to face a charge of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct, an offence that carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both. - April 22, 2026