- A 23-year-old Malaysian man was arrested on Tuesday (Aug 11) for his alleged involvement in scams after he was found with fake inking instruments and employee passes at Woodlands Checkpoint.
- The man was directed by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers to undergo enhanced checks at Woodlands Checkpoint's bus arrival hall.
- ICA officers found fake stamps bearing the emblems of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Several fake employee passes bearing his photograph were also found on him.
- Investigations have since established that he had not worked for any of the organisations whose passes were found on him.
- According to the police, such counterfeit passes and official-looking instruments are tactics commonly employed by scammers to lend credibility to their operations.
- He is set to be charged in court on Aug 13 with the offence of making or possessing a counterfeit instrument with intent to commit forgery.
A 23-year-old Malaysian man was arrested at Woodlands Checkpoint on August 11 after Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers discovered fake employee passes and stamps bearing the emblems of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Home Affairs.124
The man was subjected to enhanced checks, where officers found several counterfeit items, including inking instruments and employee passes with his photograph. Investigations revealed he had no employment history with the organizations linked to the passes.
According to police, such counterfeit passes are commonly used by scammers to deceive victims into believing they are dealing with legitimate representatives.6
He is set to be charged in court on August 13 with making or possessing a counterfeit instrument with intent to commit forgery, an offence that carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison and a fine.7
The rise in scams has been alarming; in 2025, government officials impersonation scams more than doubled to 3,363 cases, with losses reaching S$243 million. Overall, Singapore has lost over $4 billion to scams since 2019, with $913.1 million lost in 2025 alone, of which $140.5 million has been recovered.
“The police noted that such counterfeit passes and official-looking instruments are common tactics scammers use to appear legitimate. Government official impersonation scams more than doubled to 3,363 cases in 2025, with losses up 60.5% to about S$243 million.”
AsiaOne
The Star
