Authorities in Singapore have charged an individual affiliated with a notorious scam syndicate based in Cambodia, accused of defrauding victims of over S$53 million, approximately RM164 million. The charged suspect, 30-year-old Ngiam Siow Jui, was presented in court following his alleged involvement in a broad international fraud operation centered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Investigators suspect that this syndicate has deceived numerous victims not only in Singapore but across Southeast Asia.
Court records detail that Ngiam faces charges under Singapore’s Organised Crime Act, accused of serving as a scam caller at a call center in Phnom Penh. Officials assert that the syndicate employed advanced tactics to trick victims into transferring large amounts of money through fraudulent investment schemes, impersonation, and online scams. This case marks one of the largest organized fraud investigations currently underway in Singapore.
Ngiam was apprehended earlier by Cambodia’s National Police and repatriated to Singapore on May 4. In court, prosecutors requested his continued detention for an additional week to facilitate ongoing investigations, indicating the possibility of his involvement in police operations geared towards evidence recovery linked to the scam network.
The police revealed that the scam network is reported to be associated with a staggering 535 identified scams occurring in Singapore alone. Authorities believe the organization operated through systematic call centers, often dubbed as boiler rooms, focusing on unsuspecting individuals in the region. These scams have resulted in significant financial losses, raising alarming concerns about the escalation of transnational cybercrime in Southeast Asia.
The syndicate was targeted during a large-scale police operation conducted on September 9, 2025, leading to multiple arrests across Singapore and Cambodia, and revealing key figures who allegedly orchestrated the scam. Since then, cooperative efforts with international law enforcement have focused on hunting down further suspects.
Authorities have named 32-year-old Ng Wei Liang as the alleged mastermind, who is currently at large. Multiple individuals associated with him have faced charges, including his brother Ng Wei Kang, girlfriend Christy Neo Wei En, and cousin Lester Ng Jing Hai—all early suspects arrested in the probe.
Investigations further disclosed connections to Malaysia, with seven of the 34 identified suspects being Malaysian nationals. While several remain elusive, at least five individuals have been arrested, which includes Malaysian suspect Bernard Goh Yie Shen and several Singaporeans believed to be integral to the scam.
Singaporean authorities have intensified efforts to apprehend remaining fugitives linked to this syndicate. On May 5, Interpol issued Red Notices for Jonathan Boneta and Lee Ding Hao, two Singaporean suspects believed to be operating outside of Singapore and actively sought by international agencies.
The case has astonished many due to the substantial sums involved and the sophisticated nature of the scams. Officials have cautioned that Cambodia-based scam centers remain a serious threat to Southeast Asia, utilizing advanced digital techniques and false identities to operate transnationally. Ngiam could potentially face a sentence of up to five years, along with fines reaching S$100,000, should he be convicted under the Organised Crime Act.
