Singapore Arrests Two Over Singpass Scheme Linked to 160+ LiquidPay Accounts and Scam Proceeds
Singapore Police arrested two male Chinese Malaysians, aged 25 and 47, on 25 August 2026 over an alleged scheme that compromised Singpass accounts and used them to create payment accounts linked to scam proceeds.
According to the Singapore Police Force, at least 20 Singapore citizens and work permit holders have been investigated since early March 2026 in connection with LiquidPay accounts that received S$110,063 arising from various scams. Preliminary investigations indicate that some account holders may not have known that the accounts had been created or how they would be used.
More than 160 additional LiquidPay accounts identified and frozen
Between 21 and 25 August, officers from the Police Cyber Command, supported by the Singpass Trust & Safety team at GovTech Singapore, conducted an operation to identify members of the alleged syndicate. Police said the two arrested men worked at a mobile phone shop in Singapore and allegedly used opportunities arising from their jobs to access customers’ Singpass accounts.
In one example cited by police, one suspect allegedly offered to help a customer update the mobile number linked to the customer’s Singpass account while the customer was buying a new SIM card. The access was then allegedly used to create a LiquidPay account without the customer’s knowledge.
Investigators subsequently identified another 171 Singapore citizens and foreign workers whose Singpass accounts were linked to the same activity. Police said the compromised Singpass accounts were used to register more than 160 additional LiquidPay accounts without the account holders’ knowledge. All affected LiquidPay accounts have been frozen.
Charges involve retaining benefits from criminal conduct
The two men are due to be charged on 27 August under Section 51 of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 for allegedly assisting another person to retain benefits from criminal conduct. The offence carries up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to S$500,000, or both.
Police investigations into individuals who may have voluntarily relinquished their Singpass credentials are continuing. SPF also warned that compromised Singpass credentials can be used to open bank accounts, e-wallets, crypto accounts and mobile lines for illegal activities.
The case has a direct AML and illicit-finance nexus because the alleged scheme involved payment accounts used to receive scam proceeds, the freezing of more than 160 affected accounts, and planned charges under Singapore’s proceeds-of-crime legislation. As of the SPF announcement, the two men were due to be charged in court on 27 August; no conviction has been reported.
