Members of the public are advised that syndicated groups have organised and brought into Singapore foreigners, purporting to be deaf and mute, to engage in illegal hawking activities, selling soft toys, potpourri and other wares. These foreigners are in Singapore on social visit pass.

2 Their modus operandi is to approach and harass prospective customers in crowded public places like bus interchanges, shopping centres, food centres and MRT stations. They will show a card saying that they are "part of the deaf and mute community" and hope that customers would "support the deaf by buying their products".

3 The Singapore Association for the Deaf has complained that some of these illegal hawkers are also using their logo as a ploy to sell their wares. A number of complaints have also been received from members of the public that they were harassed by these illegal hawkers to buy their toys at between $15 and $20 apiece.

4 Earlier this year, a total of 114 such illegal hawkers were arrested by ENV but recently, the syndicate has been active again. We have recently rounded up another 28 such illegal hawkers.

5 Members of the public are advised not to patronise these illegal hawkers. They can report such illegal hawking activity to our toll-free hotline at 1800-4532222.