The Police would like to alert members of the public to a surge in e-commerce scams involving the sale of gold. Since 1 September 2024, at least 26 cases were reported with total losses amounting to at least $236,000.
In this variant, victims would encounter advertisements or livestreams on platforms such as Shopee, Facebook, Tiktok and Telegram, promoting the sale of gold at low prices. In some livestreams, there would be scammers masquerading as customers to assure viewers that the advertisement is legitimate. In some cases, the scammers claimed that they were helping individuals in Myanmar monetise their gold through these platforms. After the victims made payment for their purchase of gold, the scammers would demand for more monies on the pretext of delivery fees. Victims would only realise that they had been scammed when they did not receive the gold.
Members of the public are encouraged to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
- ADD – Add the ScamShield app and set security features (e.g. enable International Call Blocking options on mobile devices, enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) or Multifactor Authentication for online accounts, Money Lock your bank accounts to further secure a portion of your savings). Set transaction limits to your payment accounts (e.g. bank accounts, PayNow, PayLah).
- CHECK – Check for scam signs with official sources (e.g. call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799, use the ScamShield app or visit www.scamshield.gov.sg), or with someone you trust. You can also check the e-Commerce platforms’ transaction safety ratings at go.gov.sg/mhatsr. Look out for common signs of e-commerce scams which includes offers at an attractive price for a limited time, and consistent asks for payment of additional customs or delivery fees after payment for the item. Pay only using secure payment options offered by the platform and never disclose your personal information, internet banking or One-Time passwords to anyone.
- TELL – Tell the authorities as well as your family and friends if or when you encounter scams. Flag any suspicious sellers to the e-commerce platform. If you suspect that you have fallen victim to a scam, call your bank immediately to report and block any fraudulent transactions as well as make a police report.
If you have any information relating to such crimes, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit a report online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. 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.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can ACT Against Scams to safeguard our community!
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
28 October 2024 @ 8:00 PM