An international joint operation led by the Singaporean police authorities successfully shut down dozens of crime centers and apprehended over 1,800 fraudsters involved in a $225 million (approximately 300 billion KRW) fraud scheme. This operation, dubbed 'Operation Frontier+', was the result of an intensive two-month crackdown in April and May, involving law enforcement agencies from seven Asian nations: Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand, and Macau.
Through this operation, a total of 33,900 suspects were investigated, believed to be involved in at least 9,200 fraud cases. The fraud methods were highly diverse and sophisticated, including investment scams, romance scams via dating apps, impersonation of government agencies, and scams using fake job recruitment websites. Notably, the total amount extorted from victims reached $225 million, and approximately 32,000 bank accounts linked to the "pig butchering" scam technique were frozen, with $20 million (approximately 27 billion KRW) in funds seized. This clearly demonstrates the enormous financial power of international fraud organizations and the extensive scale of their damages.
The Singapore Police Force alone arrested 106 individuals, who were found to have extorted approximately $30 million (approximately 40 billion KRW) through about 1,300 fraud cases. Furthermore, they successfully seized illegal funds amounting to approximately $8 million (approximately 10.8 billion KRW) from 714 bank accounts. The arrested suspects are expected to be charged with various offenses, including hacking and using stolen government identification.
David Chew, a senior police official in Singapore, emphasized that fraud organizations now "operate without geographical boundaries, using increasingly sophisticated methods across multiple jurisdictions to deceive victims and launder illicit proceeds." He stated, "A transnational threat requires a transnational response. No single jurisdiction has all the answers to this scourge, but together, we are collectively stronger," underscoring the importance of international cooperation.
The operation commenced in late April when two victims in Singapore transferred thousands of dollars to bank accounts provided by fraudsters. Police authorities immediately traced the funds, linking them to bank accounts in Malaysia. Through swift coordination between the two governments, a portion of the transferred amount was frozen almost immediately. This early success served as another testament to the necessity and effectiveness of international collaboration.
The Singapore Police Force plans to continue 'Operation Frontier+' and will exchange "real-time intelligence and analysis" with other countries to swiftly recover funds obtained through cyber fraud. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong police added that this operation began last year and involves at least 10 countries, including Australia, Canada, and Indonesia.
This operation aligns with the global trend of intensified crackdowns on fraud organizations. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice secured guilty pleas from six men accused of extorting over $35 million (approximately 47 billion KRW) through illegal cyber fraud centers in Cambodia. Last week, Microsoft, in cooperation with Japanese and Indian authorities, successfully dismantled a tech support scam organization that was defrauding elderly individuals in Japan. India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided 19 locations, arrested six men, shut down two illegal call centers, and seized extensive digital infrastructure.
This series of international joint operations demonstrates the active willingness of various governments to combat evolving cybercrime, and international cooperation is expected to strengthen further. Cross-border information sharing and close collaboration are essential to counter the sophisticated methods of fraud organizations, playing a decisive role in minimizing global damage and recovering criminal proceeds.
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