The Police would like to alert the public to a persistent trend of a scam variant involving the impersonation of government agencies. Between 1 June 2023 to 12 July 2023, at least 134 victims have fallen prey, with total losses amounting to at least $375,000.
In this variant, victims would receive unsolicited phone calls or in-app calls (e.g. WhatsApp video call) allegedly from government agencies such as the Singapore Police Force (SPF) or the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The scammers would claim that there were issues with the victim’s bank accounts and required additional verification. Victims would then be asked to provide their banking or personal information such as banking credentials and One-Time Passwords (OTPs) to resolve these issues. Victims may also be asked to show their identity cards, work permit or their bank cards when speaking to the “SPF” or “MOM” officer over the in-app video call. The victims would only discover that they had been scammed when they realised that there were unauthorised transactions made from their bank accounts.
The Police would also like to advise members of the public to adopt the following precautionary measures:
- ADD - ScamShield App and set security features (e.g., enable two-factor (2FA) or multifactor authentication for banks and set transaction limits on internet banking transactions, including PayNow/PayLah).
- CHECK – Before giving your banking credentials over the telephone or WhatsApp, check with authorised sources because the Police will never ask you for your banking credentials and OTP over the telephone or WhatsApp. Never share your banking credentials, including your OTPs with anyone over the phone.
- TELL – Report the number to WhatsApp for them to initiate in-app blocking. If you disclosed your banking details, report this to your bank immediately. Tell your friends about this scam so they do not fall for it.
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. Please call ‘999’ if you require urgent Police assistance.
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.
Example of a scammer allegedly from government agencies in an in-app call ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
17 July 2023 @ 5:30 PM