A 23-year-old Malaysian man allegedly entered Singapore carrying fake employee passes and inking instruments resembling official stamps from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Supreme Court.
According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the man entered Singapore on 11 August 2026 and was directed by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officers to undergo enhanced checks at the Woodlands Checkpoint arrival bus hall.
Fake Passes Bore His Photograph
Officers allegedly found several fake employee passes bearing the man’s photograph.
Police investigations subsequently found that he had no record of working for any of the organisations named on the passes.
Inking instruments resembling the emblems of MHA and the Supreme Court were also allegedly discovered on him.
Police said scammers commonly use counterfeit passes and official-looking items to convince victims that they represent legitimate organisations.
Man Expected to Be Charged
SPF said the man was due to be charged in court on 13 August with making or possessing a counterfeit instrument with the intention of committing forgery.
The offence, under Section 473 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine.
At the time of writing, the police statement only said that he would be charged. He has not been convicted, and the allegations have not been proven in court.
How to Check Suspicious Documents
Police advised the public to verify the identities of people claiming to represent financial institutions through the directories and registers on the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s website.
Court orders can be checked through the Authentic Court Orders portal using the QR code or access code printed on the document. Other purported court documents should be verified through the Singapore Courts’ official contact channels.
Police also reiterated that Singapore government officials will not ask people to transfer money over the phone, disclose online banking credentials, install applications from unofficial app stores or transfer their calls to the police.
Anyone uncertain about a possible scam can call the 24-hour ScamShield Helpline at 1799.
