Suspected scammer caught with fake employee passes, stamps with Supreme Court and MHA emblems

SINGAPORE – A Malaysian man was caught at Woodlands Checkpoint on Aug 11 allegedly with items such as fake employee passes and official-looking stamps believed to be for the purposes of carrying out scams.

The 23-year-old was found with inking instruments bearing the emblems of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Home Affairs when he was directed by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officers for enhanced checks at the arrival bus hall at the checkpoint. Several fake employee passes bearing his photograph were also found on him.

Investigations revealed that he had no employment history with any of the organisations whose passes were found on him, said the police in a statement on Aug 12.

“Such counterfeit passes and official-looking instruments are tactics commonly employed by scammers to lend credibility to their operations, deceiving victims into believing they are dealing with representatives of a legitimate organisation,” said the police.

The man will be charged in court on Aug 13 with the offence of making or possessing a counterfeit instrument with intent to commit forgery.

The offence carries a jail term of up to seven years and a fine.

Anyone with information on such potential scams can call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness

All information will be kept strictly confidential, said the police.