Suspected money mule for online scammers arrested

SINGAPORE - A 31-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly acting as a money mule in a series of online scams to which eight victims lost $2,700 in total.

The suspect is believed to have remitted funds transferred by the victims, who thought they were buying smartphones and tablets at prices below market rates, to an overseas bank account.

Not only did the victims fail to receive their orders, some of them were told that their goods were seized at customs and were tricked into making further payments.

They subsequently filed reports with the police in September last year.

The man suspected to have been working as a money mule for the scammers was arrested in Jurong West today, and will be charged in court on Thursday.

If found guilty of dishonestly receiving stolen property, the suspect faces a jail term of up to five years, a fine or both. For the offence of transferring benefits of criminal conduct, he faces a jail term of up to seven years, a fine of up to $500,000 or both.

huizhen@sph.com.sg