Two Officers Tracing cryptocurrency crime for the Singapore Police Force start with a clue that can look like random letters and numbers: a digital wallet address. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mohamed Shariff Ahmed Munshi and Mr Muhammad Syazwan Bin Suhaimi follow those records to support investigations, disrupt illicit transfers and protect people from further harm. The Police account of their work describes their approach.
The officers work in different parts of Cyber Command. ASP Shariff is a Cryptocurrency Tracing Officer with the Anti-Scam Centre’s Crypto Tracing Team. Mr Syazwan is a Cyber Specialist (Cryptocurrency) with the Cybercrime Investigation Branch (CIB).
Two Officers Tracing Funds Across Wallets
For ASP Shariff, a case can begin when a scam victim files a Police report. Investigators may have only a wallet address or a transaction record showing where cryptocurrency went. His team uses blockchain analytics to follow funds across wallets and platforms, looking for leads that could interrupt the flow or preserve funds before they become harder to recover.
“Blockchain analysis turns a string of digital wallet addresses into a clear picture of how the money is moving,” he said. The trail can show that an apparently isolated scam may connect to a wider digital crime network.
Following transactions also helps investigators find people who may still be caught in scams. Some victims believe they are making legitimate investments or helping someone they trust. By the time Police reach them, they may have transferred substantial funds and could be preparing to send more.
In proactive operations with industry partners, Cyber Command uses blockchain analysis to identify potential victims before another transfer. Between March and August 2026, four joint operations involving the Police, participating cryptocurrency exchanges and digital payment token service providers identified more than 720 potential scam victims and prevented more than $18.9 million in potential losses.
When people remain convinced that a scammer is genuine, ASP Shariff and his team walk them through the evidence, showing how money moved between wallets. He said investigations need patience and empathy as well as the ability to uncover the truth.
Custom Tools Examine Concealed Transfers
Mr Syazwan applies cybersecurity expertise to cryptocurrency-linked cybercrime investigations. Seconded from the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore in 2025, he examines digital evidence and develops tools to support investigations. His work includes open-source intelligence and evidence from systems and devices to identify threat actors.
Blockchain analytics platforms help investigators map wallet activity, but some case needs require tools unavailable off the shelf. Mr Syazwan develops customized tools to analyze complex transactions and examine ways criminals conceal fund movements.
One case involved a cryptocurrency exchange hack worth around $8.8 million. Some stolen funds had moved through a privacy mixer, a service designed to scramble the money trail and make it harder to determine which funds belong to whom. Mr Syazwan used a tool he built to analyze that activity and identify funds linked to the stolen proceeds, leading investigators directly to the accused.
Victim Protection Remains Central
The source says criminal methods evolve alongside cryptocurrency and technology. It notes artificial intelligence can make scams more convincing through polished messages, impersonation and fabricated audio or video. Cyber Command officers continue strengthening technical capabilities, developing investigative methods and working with industry and overseas agencies.
For ASP Shariff, the work is grounded in the person behind each address. “Behind every digital wallet address is a real person,” he said. Mr Syazwan described satisfaction in turning an apparently impossible trail into a meaningful lead and seeing his tools help other officers work more efficiently.
Block Telegraph has also covered a crypto fraud court case, frozen scam funds and crypto-related charges. These are separate cases; this article focuses on tracing transactions and preventing further losses.
In the joint operations described by the Police, officers reached potential victims before they transferred more money.
