Singapore Police issue alert on scam calls from impostor ‘officers’; victims lost SGD 73,000

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has issued an advisory that cautions the general public in opposition to a brand new scam, which is “a authorities official impersonation scam variant”.

In a press launch yesterday, the SPF mentioned that these “scammers would impersonate officers from the Anti-Scam Centre (ASC), to hunt victims’ help in investigations”. It added: “Since January 2024, at the least 2 victims have fallen prey, with whole losses amounting to at the least SGD 73,000.”

The SPF launch defined: “In this variant, victims would obtain unsolicited robocalls from native cellular strains claiming to be from the ASC. Victims would be told that they’re being investigated and are required to report back to Police Cantonment Complex for an interview. They can be guided to press ‘0’ to talk to an operator.

“However, victims can be directed to scammers who would then request the disclosure of non-public particulars, equivalent to identification quantity, as a part of the verification course of. The name can be transferred to a different scammer impersonating a police investigation officer, who would re-engage the sufferer through WhatsApp name to proceed the dialog.”

Victims of such [a] scam variant could possibly be deceived into disclosing private particulars, equivalent to checking account particulars, private credentials, SingPass password or Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) One-Time Password (OTP) for the aim of aiding in investigations. Such info could also be misused to entry victims’ checking account to allow unauthorised transactions or create a brand new checking account underneath the victims’ identify to allow felony actions.

Singapore Police Force

Citing examples of such a scam, the SPF launch mentioned: “In earlier instances, victims have been instructed to switch cash to a checking account for the aim of aiding in monetary investigations. The police won’t ever ask for a person’s private particulars equivalent to identification quantity, checking account particulars, SingPass password or 2FA OTP over cellphone or social messaging platforms equivalent to WhatsApp to help in investigations.

“The police won’t ever ask a person to switch cash right into a checking account underneath their identify or one other individual’s identify to help in investigations.

“The police want to remind members of the general public to not disclose your private particulars to unknown individuals with out first ascertaining their identification.”

According to Singapore Police, members of the general public are inspired to undertake the next crime prevention measures:

● ADD – Add the ScamProtect App to guard oneself from scam calls and SMSes.

● CHECK – Check for scam indicators with official sources (e.g. ScamProtect WhatsApp bot @ https://go.gov.sg/scamshield-bot, name the Anti-Scam Helpline on 1800-722-6688, or go to www.scamalert.sg).

● TELL – Report the quantity to WhatsApp for them to provoke in-app blocking. If an individual has already disclosed their banking particulars, the financial institution ought to be knowledgeable instantly. Other folks must also be told about this scam, in order that they don’t fall for it.

Anyone with any info referring to such crimes ought to name the Singapore Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it on-line at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All info shall be saved strictly confidential. For pressing Police help, dial ‘999’.