Recruitment of Money Mules by Criminal Syndicates

Mr Vikram Nair asked the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what proportion of the scam related money mules arrested were unwitting accomplices of the criminal syndicates involved; (b) what are the common recruitment methods used by these syndicates; and (c) whether the Ministry has plans to implement further tools to combat such recruitment.

My reply will also address the Parliamentary Questions on the facility restriction framework for scam mules, filed by Mr Dennis Tan and Mr Cai Yinzhou for a Sitting on or after 16 October. [Please refer to "Data on Scam Mule Investigations from January to June 2025 and Interim Support Measures for Unknowing Victims", Official Report, 4 November 2025, Vol 96, Issue 9, Written Answers to Questions section; and "Follow-up Actions to Rectify Restrictions for Persons Acquitted as Scam Mules", Official Report, 4 November 2025, Vol 96, Issue 9, Written Answers to Questions section.]

Scammers pay mules to provide facilities such as bank accounts, phone lines and Singpass accounts, which they use to commit scams and launder the proceeds. Recruitment is typically done through online messaging and social media platforms. The Police work closely with online platforms to detect and take down accounts and advertisements which are being used for such purposes.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been taking a tough stance against mules. We have introduced offences targeted at mules who relinquish their bank accounts, SIM cards and Singpass credentials, to scammers. In the first half of 2025, the Police investigated over 3,500 money mules and scammers, of whom more than 500 have already been charged.

The Police have no intention of charging individuals who were genuinely tricked into providing facilities to scammers. The Police investigate scam cases comprehensively and will consider if the suspects were tricked into helping the scammers. The Attorney-General's Chambers will also carefully assess the cases, to determine whether the evidential threshold of the offence is met, and whether it would be in the public interest to prosecute the individual.

The Police do not keep data on cases involving individuals who were tricked into helping scammers.

Starting this month, the Government is implementing a new facility restriction framework, which restricts scam mules’ access to facilities including financial, telecommunications, and Singpass services, which can be exploited to facilitate more scams. This will apply to mules who have been warned, issued with composition sums, prosecuted, or convicted of mule-related offences, as well as individuals under investigation for mule-related offences who are assessed to be at risk of further facilitating scams. The Police will lift these restrictions when they are no longer required or if these individuals are acquitted in court.

Individuals subject to banking restrictions will still have access to basic banking facilities and can continue to receive incoming payments, including salaries and government benefits. They may also visit a bank branch to withdraw or transfer money.

Individuals who believe they have been wrongfully subject to such restrictions may appeal to the Police.