Straits Times Home > Latest News > Singapore
Jan 22, 2008
Online cheating scams kept in check
ONLINE cheating scams have been kept in check in the last three
years - thanks to Singapore's robust legal system, close
cooperation between the police and financial institutions, and
public education.
Mr Wong urged the public to remain vigilant
in tackling the online scourge. -- PHOTO: ST
FILE
Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said the number of online
cheating cases over the past three years has remained about the
same: 61 cases in 2005, 61 in 2006 and 57 in 2007.
In his written response to a question from Sembawang GRC MP Ellen
Lee Geck Hoon on Monday, he said the most common trick from
scammers is putting a false advertisement of a product or service
on the Internet to induce victims to place orders online and make
electronic payment.
The victim only realises that he has been cheated when the goods
fail to arrive. Other online
cheating scams involve fraudulent High Yield Investment Programs
(HYIP), credit card frauds, lottery scams and
advance fee scams.
Mr Wong said the number of cases solved in 2005, 2006 and 2007 was
29, 28 and 12 respectively, or about 40 per cent of the reported
cases.
The number of culprits arrested over the three was 22, 9 and 15
respectively.
On the three key thrusts to combat online cheating, the minister
said firstly, the police works closely with the Monetary Authority
of Singapore, financial institutions, and foreign law enforcement
agencies including Interpol to share fraud-related intelligence and
best practices.
A framework is in place for local financial institutions to detect,
monitor and report suspicious transactions.
Under Section 39 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and other
Serious Crimes Act (CDSA), it is mandatory for a person to make a
Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) if he has reason to suspect
that any property is connected to criminal conduct, and if such
suspicion arose in the course of his trade, profession, business or
employment.
The second thrust is public education. Police actively engages
industry stakeholders, including the media, financial institutions
and remittance companies, online merchants and grassroots
organisations to apprise them of common online scam scenarios and
educate them on crime prevention methods. Police also puts out
crime prevention advice on common scams through the media, using
SMS messages and through websites of the Commercial Affairs
Department (http://www.cad.gov.sg) and Moneysense
websites (http://www.moneysense.gov.sg).
Crimewatch has also alerted Singaporeans not to be fooled by these
scams, said Mr Wong.
Thirdly, Singapore has put in place a robust legal framework to
punish online scammers and deter other like-minded persons.
Online scams constitute cheating offences and are punishable under
the Penal Code with imprisonment terms of up to three or seven
years.
An individual who knowingly facilitates online scams by allowing
syndicates to use his bank account to receive proceeds of criminal
conduct is also guilty of an offence under the Corruption, Drug
Trafficking and other Serious Crimes Act (CDSA).
Mr Wong urged the public to remain vigilant in tackling the online
scourge.
'They should not let their desire for quick gain get the better of
them. Please do not fall prey to online cheating scams as their
promises of riches or easy money are illusory,' he said.
' The public should also not allow their bank accounts or personal
details to be used by online scammers. Any attempt by such scammers
to elicit money or to use your bank accounts should be reported to
the police.'
Related links to this thread:-
http://www.moneysense.gov.sg/check_our_list/Consumer_Portal_IAL.html
http://www.spf.gov.sg/mic/2007/071113_sunshine_empire.htm
http://www.cad.gov.sg/topNav/new/pre/Sunshine+Empire+Pte+Ltd.htm