SINGAPORE - A shocking incident involving a teenage girl studying in Singapore has come to light, as Singapore police reveal that she is believed to be a victim of a complex money laundering scam after allegedly being kidnapped in Malaysia.

The victim, a 15-year-old Chinese national, fell into the hands of ruthless scammers who contacted her on October 12, posing as immigration officials from Singapore and Chinese police officers. They claimed that she was embroiled in a serious investigation linked to her student pass and that her personal information had been compromised for criminal activities.

The scammers deliberately instilled fear in the girl, asserting that she was part of a larger money laundering operation. They subjected her to an incessant video call, monitoring her day and night, making her feel isolated and manipulated. Deputy Superintendent of Police Kor Ching Kiat stated, “This was a young girl who did not understand the legal processes and was terrified into compliance.”

As the sinister plot unfolded, the scammers directed the girl to travel to Malaysia on November 24 to address fictitious bail issues related to the investigation. Following their instructions, she contacted a taxi service, which transferred her to Johor Bahru, where she met another Chinese national, 22-year-old Huang Xiaonan, also a victim of the scammers. The two had never met before, highlighting the degree of manipulation at play.

In a chilling twist, Huang took the girl’s phone and replaced it with a different device before disappearing. When she failed to attend an important exam on November 25, her school alerted her friends and guardian in Singapore, leading to a missing person report filed by her guardian, and her father taking further action across borders.

The collaborative efforts of Singaporean and Malaysian authorities resulted in locating the girl and Huang in Kuantan, Pahang, just days later. Huang has been arrested and charged with kidnapping, while he maintains his innocence, claiming he was also misled by the scammers.

Investigators confirmed that there were no financial losses for the girl or her family, but this incident underscores a troubling trend of scams that manipulate victims into making dangerous decisions. DSP Kor warned that such government official impersonation scams often lead victims abroad, complicating efforts to locate them. “We’ve seen cases where parents are coerced into paying ransom under the pressure of not being able to contact their children,” he recounted.

The stakes are high; between January and October of this year, over $38.2 million was reported lost in more than 300 cases of government official impersonation scams, with a notable increase from 2022.

Law enforcement advises the public to remain vigilant against such scams. “Authorities will never ask for sensitive information or money transfers via phone. Always verify the identity of any caller claiming to be from the government,” DSP Kor emphasized, urging caution in a world where the line between reality and deception can often blur dangerously.

Stay alert and protect yourself—your safety is in your hands!