SINGAPORE – Two Malaysian men, aged 22 and 38, have been arrested for their alleged involvement in separate government official impersonation gold scam that targeted a woman in Singapore.
In a statement on Sunday (Nov 9), police said they received a report two days earlier about a scam involving individuals impersonating officials from the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
The victim first received a phone call from someone claiming to be a bank employee, who informed her that a credit card had been applied for under her name. When she denied the claim, the call was transferred to other scammers posing as MinLaw and MAS representatives.
The scammers falsely told the victim she was implicated in a money laundering investigation. To make their claims appear legitimate, they sent her forged staff passes and official-looking documents via WhatsApp.
They then instructed her to transfer S$1 million (US$769,000) from one of her bank accounts to her credit card, followed by a directive to purchase over S$412,000 worth of gold from Mustafa Centre. The victim was told to hand over the gold to an unidentified individual on the same day.
After realising she had been deceived, the woman lodged a police report.
Following investigations, police identified the unknown caller as a 38-year-old Malaysian man, who was arrested upon re-entering Singapore on Saturday. Further inquiries led to the arrest of a 22-year-old Malaysian man believed to be involved in similar cases.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that both men had allegedly been tasked by unknown individuals, believed to be part of a transnational scam syndicate, to collect cash and valuables from scam victims,” police said.
Both suspects are expected to be charged in court on Monday. If convicted, they face up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both. Under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, scammers and those aiding scam syndicates may also receive six to 24 strokes of the cane.
Police noted a rising trend of Malaysian nationals entering Singapore to assist scam syndicates in collecting cash, gold, and valuables from victims.
In the first half of 2025, authorities recorded 19,665 scam cases, with total losses amounting to S$456 million (US$350 million). The top five scam types were phishing scams, e-commerce scams, job scams, investment scams and government official impersonation scams, which together made up over 70% of all reported cases.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Digital Development and Information have also flagged government impersonation scams as one of the three most prevalent scam types in Singapore.
Police have urged the public not to hand over cash, gold or valuables to unknown individuals or leave them at designated locations for collection.
They reminded the public that government officials will never request money transfers, bank login credentials, or the installation of third-party applications, nor will they transfer calls to the police.
“Police take a serious stance against scam-related offences,” the statement added. “Those involved will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.”
HackWarn Alert
Why did these gold scam work?
This case demonstrates how this scammers use multi-layered impersonation tactics and psychological manipulation to create a convincing illusion of authority:
i) Chain of credibility: The call was routed through multiple “officials,” mimicking real bureaucratic escalation, which made the scenario seem authentic.
ii) Authority and fear: Posing as officers from MinLaw and MAS added legitimacy and triggered compliance out of fear of legal consequences.
iii) Digital deception: Sending fake IDs and documents via WhatsApp exploited visual cues that most people associate with government authenticity.
iv) Urgency and secrecy: The victim was pressured to act quickly and discreetly, a common hallmark of social engineering scams.
How to avoid similar scams
i) Verify first, act later. Contact the agency directly through official hotlines or websites before taking any action.
ii) Do not transfer funds or buy assets on instruction from anyone claiming to be a government officer. No legitimate agency will request such actions.
iii) Never share banking credentials or download apps via unofficial links sent by unknown parties.
iv) Check for red flags: Requests for secrecy, urgent deadlines, or threats of arrest are classic scam indicators.
Report immediately: In Singapore, report scams via the ScamShield app, visit scamalert.sg, or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688.
Source: CNA
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