Police warn of rising cross-border scam runners after victim loses S$23,000

Singapore police have arrested another Malaysian national in a government official impersonation scam, underscoring a growing pattern of cross-border syndicates using couriers to collect cash from victims.

Victim Was Told He Was Under Investigation
A 66-year-old man was allegedly duped after receiving a call from someone claiming to be from UnionPay about an insurance premium plan he said he did not have. The call was then transferred to another person who pretended to be an officer from the Monetary Authority of Singapore and told him his identity had been compromised and that he was being investigated for money laundering.

S$23,000 Handed Over in Two Meetings
Police said the victim was instructed not to tell his family, to withdraw all his money, and to hand it over for “investigation.” He was also coached on what to say to bank staff. The man eventually withdrew and handed over a total of S$23,000 in two separate occasions near Canberra Road before realizing he had been scammed when the supposed officer stopped contacting him.

Malaysian Suspect Allegedly Collected Part of the Cash
The Anti-Scam Command later identified a 26-year-old Malaysian man as the person who allegedly collected S$4,000 from the victim during the second handover. Police said preliminary investigations suggest he had been tasked by unknown individuals, believed to be part of a transnational syndicate, to collect cash and valuables from scam victims and pass them to other unknown persons.

Part of a Wider Pattern Since March
The suspect is the 11th Malaysian arrested for similar cases since March, according to police. Earlier police statements also showed a continuing rise in such arrests, with multiple Malaysian nationals detained in March over suspected roles in government official impersonation scams and related cases. The trend has reinforced concerns that foreign runners are being sent into Singapore specifically to collect money, gold, and valuables from victims.

Police Renew Warning to the Public
The man is set to be charged with assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct, an offence that carries up to 10 years’ jail, a fine of up to S$100,000, or both. Police reminded the public that genuine government officials will never ask for money transfers over the phone, request bank credentials, transfer calls to the police, or instruct people to install apps from unofficial stores. Anyone in doubt can call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

This case highlights how scam syndicates are continuing to exploit fear, authority, and cross-border networks to target victims in Singapore. For Singaporeans, it is another reminder that official-sounding calls can still be part of elaborate deception. For Indonesians and Malaysians watching the trend, it also shows how regional criminal networks are increasingly mobile, organized, and willing to use foreign couriers to keep scams running.

Sources: Asia One (2026)

Keywords: Singapore Scam Arrest, Government Official Impersonation Scam, Malaysian Suspect, Anti Scam Command, UnionPay Scam, MAS Impersonation, Scam Courier