The Police would like to alert members of the public to the persistent trend of a phishing scam variant where scammers would impersonate DBS bank through spoofed SMSes, to phish for victims’ online banking usernames, passwords and One-Time Passwords (OTP). Since January 2024, at least 83 victims have fallen prey, with total losses amounting to at least $155,000.
In most of these cases, victims would receive SMSes claiming to be from DBS bank. These SMSes would warn the victims of possible unauthorised attempts to access their DBS bank accounts, urging them to click on the embedded URL links to verify their identities and stop the transactions. After clicking on the links, the victims would be directed to spoofed DBS bank websites where victims would be misled into providing their internet banking credentials and OTP, which the scammers would use to make unauthorised withdrawals.
In some cases, victims would receive WhatsApp messages impersonating as DBS bank security department officers who would provide forged bank statements displaying unauthorised transactions made in the victims’ e-wallets. Victims would only realise that they had been scammed when they discovered unauthorised transactions in their bank accounts.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to adopt the following precautionary measures:
- ADD – ScamShield App to protect yourself from scam calls and SMSes. Set security features (e.g. set up transaction limits for internet banking transactions, enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Multifactor Authentication for banks and e-wallets).
- CHECK – For scam signs with official sources (e.g. ScamShield WhatsApp bot @ https://go.gov.sg/scamshield-bot, call the Anti-Scam Helpline on 1800-722-6688, or visit www.scamalert.sg). DBS bank will never send you clickable links via SMS. Look out for tell-tale signs of a phishing website and never disclose your personal or banking credentials, including OTPs to anyone.
- TELL – authorities, family, and friends about scams. Report any fraudulent transactions to DBS bank immediately.
If you have any information relating to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential. If you require urgent Police assistance, please dial ‘999’.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can ACT Against Scams to safeguard our community!
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
05 January 2024 @ 6:10 PM