Details of Cambodia scam centre targeting Singapore victims emerge at woman's trial

Details emerged in a Singapore court on Wednesday about a Cambodia-based scam syndicate that allegedly targeted victims in Singapore through a multi-level scheme. De Villar Rizalyn Panganiban, a 35-year-old Filipina, is on trial for her alleged involvement in the operation.

The criminal group is accused of conducting government official impersonation scams. Victims were reportedly tricked into believing their bank accounts were compromised, then persuaded to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers. Panganiban was among 12 individuals charged last September after a joint operation by the Singapore Police Force and Cambodian National Police disrupted the syndicate. Authorities believe the group was responsible for at least 330 reported cases, with losses exceeding S$40 million (US$31 million).

Panganiban faces two charges: membership in a locally-linked organized criminal group and conspiring to cheat. Her defense lawyer is Chooi Jing Yen. Court documents indicate Panganiban was recruited in March 2025 for what she believed was an office job at an online gambling company in Cambodia, with a monthly salary of US$1,500. She arrived in Phnom Penh on March 29, 2025, and was taken to the group's call center.

Prosecutors allege Panganiban underwent training as a caller on her first day and was given a script to memorize. They argue she was a willing participant, not a victim of trafficking or deception. An investigation officer testified that Panganiban provided statements detailing the scam's three-line caller structure. Line one callers impersonated bank officers, while line two callers posed as Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) officers.