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TWO Malaysian men have been arrested in Singapore for their suspected involvement in a government impersonation scam, as authorities highlight a growing pattern of foreign nationals being recruited to collect valuables from victims.
The arrests on 21 March bring the total number of Malaysians detained in similar cases this month to eight, according to the Singapore Police Force.
The Straits Times reported today that a 30-year-old man is due to be charged on 22 March, while a 20-year-old is expected to face the same charge a day later. Both are accused of assisting another person to retain benefits from criminal conduct.
The case centres on a 62-year-old victim who lodged a report on 20 March after being deceived by callers posing as representatives from M1 and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
She was told she had an outstanding bill of S$350 that could not be deducted from her bank account. The deception escalated over WhatsApp, where she was informed that Apple products had allegedly been purchased using her account and delivered to an address in Bukit Batok.
When she denied any knowledge of the transactions, she was referred to an individual claiming to be an MAS investigation officer, who alleged she was implicated in a money laundering case.
The scammer instructed her to declare all her valuables, including 8.6kg of gold, and directed her to bring the items to the MAS building in Shenton Way. She was told that an अधिकारी would identify himself using a codeword before taking the assets for inspection.
Upon arrival, a man approached her vehicle, uttered the agreed codeword and took the bag of gold before leaving. The victim later grew suspicious and checked with building security, who confirmed the man was not affiliated with MAS, prompting her to alert the police.
Investigations involving multiple units, including the Police Operations Command Centre, Anti-Scam Command and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, led to the arrests. One suspect was apprehended while attempting to leave Singapore, while the other was detained near Woodlands.
Police believe the two men were acting on instructions from individuals linked to a transnational scam syndicate, tasked with collecting cash, gold and jewellery from victims before passing them to other operatives.
If convicted, they face penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant, advising against handing over cash or valuables to unknown individuals, leaving assets unattended for collection, or sharing sensitive information such as login credentials with unverified parties. - March 22, 2026