Since March 2016, there have been numerous reports of victims receiving calls from unknown persons claiming to be from companies providing courier services such as Singapore Post (SingPost). In most of these cases, the callers will inform the victims that their personal particulars had been used to send parcels containing illicit items such as fake passports or weapons. The calls will then be transferred to another person claiming to be a customs officer, police officer or government official. The victims were then told to provide their personal particulars including name, identification number, address, passport number, bank account numbers, etc.
Due to the strong Police-Community partnership in crime fighting, several cases of scams have been foiled by alert staff from SingPost. For example, in March and April 2016, Ms Amnah Bte Bakar, Assistant Manager of Bukit Batok SingPost had helped foiled two cases of scams. In the first incident, a 26-year-old victim received a phone call from an unknown person who identified himself as a government official. The victim was informed to remit $4160 to an overseas account in order to settle a mistake on her immigration form. The victim then proceeded to Bukit Batok SingPost Branch Office to remit the money as instructed. At the SingPost office, Ms Amnah found something was amiss and pointed the victim to a scam poster before advising the victim to lodge a police report.
In the second incident, a 31-year-old victim had visited Bukit Batok SingPost Branch Office to remit money after receiving a call from a person claiming to be an immigration officer, requesting the victim to transfer a sum of $3000 for a mistake on his immigration records. Ms Amnah advised him that he was likely a victim of scam and persuaded him to lodge a police report.
In another example, on 25 August 2016, a case of cyber extortion scam was foiled by Mr New Eu Huat, a SingPost staff from Clementi Mall Branch Office. The 29-year-old victim had gotten acquainted with an unknown lady via social media and he was asked to transfer a sum of money to assure that his indecent footages will not be published online.
The victim was about to remit RM500 at Clementi Mall SingPost when Mr New who was attending to him sensed that something was wrong and he urged him to lodge a police report.
As a result of their civic-mindedness in helping to detect and stop the cases of scams, Ms Amnah and Mr New were presented with Letters of Appreciation by the Police.
Jurong and Clementi Division have deepened the community partnership with SingPost by working with them to train the SingPost staff on detecting possible cases of scams. In addition, from 1 October 2016, SingPost will be putting up scam advisory posters and videos produced by the Police at all 57 SingPost offices island wide. The Police will continue to work with the community to deter and detect crimes.
Jurong Division Scam Awareness Talk with SingPost Branch Manager
Clementi Division Scam Awareness Talk with SingPost representatives from branches island-wide.
Letter Of Appreciation presentation to Ms Amnah (Bukit Batok SingPost Branch)
Letter of Appreciation presentation to Mr New Eu Huat (Clementi SingPost Branch)
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 September 2016 @ 6:00 PM