World

Singapore prevents use of SIM cards for scams

Singapore has passed a bill regulating criminal acts and tougher penalties for those who use SIM cards for scams.

Singapore (VNA) – Singapore has passed a billregulating criminal acts and tougher penalties for those who use SIM cardsfor scams.

The Law Enforcement and Other Matters Bill, approved by the Singaporean Parliament on April 2, identifies three groups who use local SIM cards to facilitate scams, namely irresponsiblesubscribers, middlemen, and errant retailers who deal in such cards.

It will be an offence for a person to hand over local SIMcards registered in his own name, or to allow his particulars to be used tosign up for local SIM cards. But those who have legitimate reasons such asregistering a SIM card for their family members will not be liable. Those whowere tricked into giving up their particulars will also not be prosecuted.

Middlemen are those who broker SIM cards for misuse, includingproviding local SIM cards for scam syndicates.

A person with 11 or more of such SIM cards,or a one having a SIM card that was previously used for crime will be liable. However, a personwith legitimate reasons like being an employer who is holding on to SIMcards intended for employees will also not be prosecuted.

Errant retailers are those who facilitate the fraudulentregistration of local SIM cards.

It will be an offence for a mobile service provider orretailer to register a local SIM card using anyone’s particulars withoutpermission, or knowing that the particulars are false or misleading if itbelieves the cards will be misused or later used in a crime.

The offences by the brokers and retailers of SIMcards for misuse will similarly carry a fine of up to 10,000 SGD (7,400 USD) and a jailterm of up to three years for a first offence. Repeat offenders can be fined upto 20,000 SGD and jailed for up to five years.

In 2023, Singapore discovered 46,000 telecommunications scam cases, the highest so far, with losses of up to 651.8million SGD./.

VNA
#Singapore #bill #tougher penalties #SIM cards #middle retailers #Vietnam Plus #Vietnam News Agency #misuse Singapore
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

New species of long-necked dinosaur discovered in Thailand

New species of long-necked dinosaur discovered in Thailand

According to the latest announcement from the Phu Wiang Dinosaur Museum under Thailand's Department of Mineral Resources, the fossil of the newly identified dinosaur species was discovered at the Phu Noi fossil site in Kalasin province, embedded in rock layers of the Phu Kradung Formation dating to the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 million years ago.

Indonesia promotes aviation ecosystem development

Indonesia promotes aviation ecosystem development

INACA Chairman Denon Prawiraatmadja said the third IAS serves as a collaborative platform for the government, industry players, and all stakeholders to sustainably strengthen the national aviation ecosystem.

AI-powered robots displayed at an event in Malaysia (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia unveils strategy to counter future cyber threats

Malaysia must shift from conventional security methods to a more comprehensive strategy to address rapidly evolving threats, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), post-quantum cryptography and drones.

Containers are handled at a port in Penang state, Malaysia. (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia central bank upbeat on 2026 economic growth

Domestic demand continues to be underpinned by a stable labour market, strong export performance and sustained investment activity. Rising exports are expected to support employment and private consumption, while growing demand linked to artificial intelligence and the electrical and electronics sector is expected to provide an additional boost.

Thai court jails bank employees over mule account scam network

Thai court jails bank employees over mule account scam network

The court in Pattaya province found that four employees of a commercial bank in Pattaya, including a branch manager, had facilitated the opening of bank accounts for Chinese nationals entering Thailand on tourist visas. The accounts were later used as mule accounts to receive funds fraudulently obtained by call-centre scam gangs.

Illustrative Image (Photo: VNA)

Philippines posts record rice imports in first half of 2026

According to the BPI, rice imports from January to June rose 20.1%, or about 460,000 tonnes, from 2.29 million tonnes in the same period last year. The first-half total already accounts for around 57% of the government's full-year import target of 4.8 million tonnes.

A booth of Palestine at the D-8 Halal Expo Indonesia (HEI) 2026 in Jakarta. (Photo: VNA)

Indonesia eyes central role in global halal economy

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta said promoting the D-8 Halal Economic Initiative is a concrete step towards strengthening Indonesia's economic integration with the Islamic world amid a volatile global economy. He added that the halal economy will become a new driver of Indonesia's economic growth and export expansion.

Thailand busts fake birth certificate ring for foreign children

Thailand busts fake birth certificate ring for foreign children

According to the Royal Thai Police, the network recruited Thai men to pose as the fathers of foreign-born children in order to complete birth registration procedures and fraudulently secure Thai citizenship. Preliminary investigations found that 164 children had been registered through the scheme over the past five years.

The Petronas Twin Towers, a tourist magnet of Malaysia, as seen from the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (Photo: VNA)

Malaysia sees rise in international tourist arrivals

The growth was driven by strong demand from key source markets, including ASEAN member states, China, Japan, Australia, China's Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as Central Asian countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

Indonesia develops breakthrough nickel ore processing technology

Indonesia develops breakthrough nickel ore processing technology

Unlike conventional refining methods that typically process only one type of nickel ore, the new process developed by Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) can handle both saprolite and limonite ores within a single refining sequence.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto pose for a photo at the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. (Photo: VNA)

Indonesia, India launch Prambanan cultural heritage conservation project

Speaking at the July 8 event, Prabowo described Prambanan as not only a historic monument but also a symbol of the great civilisation of the Indonesian archipelago. He noted that the Ramayana bas-reliefs adorning the temple walls stand as vivid testimony to the centuries-old cultural exchanges and enduring ties between the civilisations of Indonesia and India.

A cargo port in India (Photo: ANI/VNA)

India seeks to reshape ties with ASEAN

Since launching its Act East policy and, more recently, the MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, India has shifted from merely "looking East" to actively “acting East”, placing ASEAN and the Southeast Asian region at the centre of its Indo-Pacific strategy.

Thai commission strengthens trade competition framework

Thai commission strengthens trade competition framework

Following its participation in negotiations to upgrade the ASEAN – Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) in Seoul, the Republic of Korea, the TCCT underscored the growing importance of incorporating competition law cooperation into international trade agreements.