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The Police have observed a resurgence of Telegram accounts being compromised after victims clicked on links purporting to be linked to the "Public Transport Voucher Scheme". Victims are tricked into providing their Telegram verification codes, allowing scammers to seize control of their accounts. 

In this variant, victims would receive a Telegram message containing an infographic that purports to verify eligibility for a public transport voucher. The message includes a fraudulent link which, when clicked, directs the victims to a page requesting for personal details such as their name, mobile number, NRIC number, and a Telegram verification code (OTP). Providing this OTP would allow scammers to seize control of the victim's Telegram account. The compromised account would then be used to send similar phishing links to the victim's Telegram contacts or to add them to chat groups promoting fraudulent investment schemes. Victims typically discovered that their Telegram account have been  compromised when friends reported receiving unexpected messages from their account, or when they noticed unauthorised activity on Telegram.

Members of the public should note the following:

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will never contact members of the public via Telegram or requests where they click on any links to claim a voucher. All legitimate public transport voucher information will be communicated through official MOT channels, such as its website or authorised social media accounts.
Protect your Telegram account by enabling the Two-Step Verification feature (Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-Step Verification).
Never share verification codes or OTP with anyone, and do not provide personal details in response to unsolicited messages.

What to Do If You Encounter This Scam

The Police would like to advise the public to adopt the following precautionary measures:

• ADD — Install the ScamShield app to block and filter suspicious messages. Enable transaction limits for internet banking and e-wallets, activate Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) where available, and use the Money Lock feature offered by your bank. Enable the Two-Step Verification feature on your Telegram account.
  
  
• CHECK — Verify all clickable links by checking the full URL; official government websites always end in ".gov.sg". Use the ScamShield app or visit www.scamshield.gov.sg to verify the legitimacy of messages, phone numbers, or websites. Do not share your Telegram verification code or any OTP with anyone.
  
  
• TELL — Tell the authorities, family, and friends about scams. Report any fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately and report any suspicious activity to the relevant online platform. 

If you are in doubt, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 to check. For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can ACT Against Scams to keep our community safe.

Annex A

Examples of Fraudulent Text Messages