Díli, Aug. 6, 2024 (Lusa) - The Timor-Leste authorities, through Interpol's Global Rapid Payments Intervention mechanism, have helped a Singaporean company recover more than US$42 million stolen through a scam email, the organisation announced on Tuesday.

In a press release, the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) explained that the global mechanism was activated after a Singaporean company reported that it had been the victim of a scam via a corporate email address.

"On 15 July, the company received an email from a supplier requesting that an outstanding payment be sent to a new bank account based in Timor-Leste. However, the email came from a fraudulent account with a slightly different spelling from the supplier's official address," says Interpol.

According to Interpol, the company transferred US$42.3 million (around €38.6 million) to the "fake supplier on 19 July".

The company only discovered the crime four days later, when the supplier said he hadn't received the payment.

Following the tip-off, the Singaporean police requested the assistance of the Timor-Leste authorities, who detected and froze the false supplier's bank account which contained US$39 million (€35.6 million).

"The Timor-Leste authorities detained a total of seven suspects and recovered more than US$2 million," adds Interpol.

Timor-Leste's Criminal Investigation and Scientific Police (PCIC) said that nine people had been detained, namely four foreigners (two Nigerians and two Indonesians) and five Timorese citizens.

The four foreigners and one Timorese citizen were remanded in custody and the remaining detainees were subject to periodic presentations to the authorities, the PCIC said.

MSE/AYLS // AYLS

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