Singapore Police: Teen girl kidnapped in Malaysia after falling victim to impersonation scam

SINGAPORE: In an update on the kidnapping case of a 15-year-old Chinese national in Malaysia, Singapore authorities revealed new details about how the teenager was manipulated by scammers posing as law enforcement officials.

The girl, a student studying in a school in Singapore, was misled into believing she was under investigation for alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Kor Ching Kiat, the officer-in-charge of the Singapore Police Force’s Anti-Scam Command, provided insights into the case on Friday (6 December).

As reported by Lianhe Zaobao, DSP Kor explained that the teen had received a phone call on 12 October 2024 from scammers impersonating both Singapore immigration officers and police officers from China.

The callers convinced the teenager that her student pass was under scrutiny due to issues with her personal details being used in criminal activities.

Manipulated by Impersonators

The scammers told her that she was part of a larger investigation and that she could be jailed if she didn’t comply.

Fearing the consequences, the girl was instructed to allow a video call to monitor her every move, even while she was sleeping, to ensure she wasn’t communicating with anyone outside their control.

“The scammers induced fear and uncertainty, telling her she could not speak to her family, as doing so would lead to her arrest. ”

“At just 15 years old, the victim was vulnerable and did not understand the legal process,” said DSP Kor.

Living alone in a rented room in Singapore, the teenager complied with the demands, unaware that she was being manipulated.

Scammers Directed Teen to Malaysia for ‘Bail Issues’

On 24 November, the scammers directed her to travel to Malaysia to resolve purported bail issues and assist with their investigation.

The girl, terrified and following the instructions, contacted a cross-border taxi service, which took her from Singapore’s Woodlands area to Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

In Johor, she met 22-year-old Huang Xiaonan, a Chinese national and university student in Singapore, who was also acting on the instructions of the scammers.

DSP Kor revealed that Huang and the girl did not know each other before this encounter.

Huang took the girl’s phone and gave her a new one with a different phone number before leaving her at a hotel.

The next day, on 25 November, the teenager failed to show up for an exam in Singapore, prompting her school to reach out to her friends and guardian.

Concerned, the guardian filed a missing person’s report, and the girl’s father, residing in China, was notified.

The father quickly contacted the Singapore Police, and by 26 November, he also alerted Malaysian authorities.

Law enforcement agencies in both countries launched a search for the missing teen. The teenager was found in Kuantan, Pahang, on the evening of 26 November.

Huang Xiaonan was arrested and charged with kidnapping. He has since claimed trial in Malaysia.

In the investigation that followed, authorities confirmed that there were no financial losses reported by the girl or her family in the scam.

Over S$38.2 Million Lost in 308 Cases of Government Officials Impersonation Scams in 2024

DSP Kor emphasised that government official impersonation scams often involve coercing victims into travelling abroad.

This, he noted, is a strategy used by scammers to evade detection and frustrate law enforcement efforts.

“Scammers frequently ask victims to travel overseas, as it makes it more difficult for authorities to track them. In some cases, we have even seen scammers demand ransom money from parents desperate to locate their children,” DSP Kor added.

According to police figures, from January to October 2024, over S$38.2 million was lost in at least 308 government officials impersonation scams, including those involving impersonators from China.

This marks a significant rise from the S$22.1 million lost in the same period in 2023.