According to the MHA, the number of regional mobile lines involved in schemes and other attacks has quadrupled dramatically, going from 5, 867 in 2021 to 23, 519 in 2023. Costs have roughly tripled from S$ 137 million to S$ 384 million.
Scams continue to be Singapore’s biggest violence drivers. The number of cases increased by almost 50 % to 46, 563 last year, the highest level since the officers began tracking schemes in 2016, while victims lost S$ 651.8 million next year.
Scammers have used native mobile lines to get scam money, such as through the PayNow system, as well as to create messaging accounts like WhatsApp, in addition to making calls and sending SMSes.
Unregulated moneylending is one other crime in which local cellular lines were used.
IRRESPONSIBLE RECORDING
According to MHA, the “rampant use” of native SIM cards has been caused by those who give away their cards or who offer their details to others who sign up for SIM accounts. Generally, this is exchanged for money.
The police must demonstrate that they knowingly gave the cards apart for unlawful functions or that they knew they would be used for criminal activity in the current regulations.
It’s difficult to prove this because they can make up ignorance, according to MHA.
This burden of proof is being reduced by The Bill. If they are aware of or have reasonable grounds to believe that the SIM cards will be used to undertake or promote a crime, or to inflict a wrongful death on another person, they may be prosecuted.
If someone did it for their own gain, did n’t take reasonable steps to discover the recipient’s identity and physical location, or did n’t take reasonable steps to discover the reason the recipient obtained the SIM card, they will be presumed to have done it.
However, if someone has a good reason to give in with their local SIM card or information, they wo n’t be prosecuted. For instance, if they print a passport on behalf of community members.
The proposed legislation, according to MHA, are not intended for those who have been” truly duped” into providing their information, which are used to file for regional SIM cards.
From January 2021 to May 2023, the government cited a sampling research based on 127 SIM cards used for moneylending schemes and unregulated moneylending. Nearly 80 % of the cards were not the registered members ‘ power.
Individuals will only be able to purchase and record a maximum of 10 post-paid SIM cards starting on April 15, according to the police’s recent announcement. These are primarily purchased by locals and have been increasingly used for fraud purposes.
Pre-paid SIM cards have always been a source of concern, with today’s only being able to purchase three pre-paid accounts.