The Police would like to alert members of the public of a fake GST Voucher mobile application. In this variant, victims would come across postings on Facebook or receive messages on messaging platforms like Whatsapp, requesting them to download and integrate the latest GST Voucher mobile application with their bank accounts. (Refer to Annex A).
Upon replying to the fake Facebook posting or the Whatsapp message, victims would be directed to a webpage containing an Android Package Kit (APK) file, labelled as “GST Voucher” for the purpose of redeeming GST Vouchers. The GST Voucher mobile application is a malicious APK file. Members of the public are advised NOT to download any suspicious APK files on their devices as they may contain malware which will allow scammers to access and take control of the device remotely as well as to steal passwords stored in the device.
The Police would like to remind members of the public of the dangers of downloading applications from third-party or dubious sites that can lead to malware being installed on victims’ mobile devices. Scammers will trick victims into installing malware-infected apps that are outside of the official Google Play Store.
Members of the public are advised to adopt the following precautionary measures:
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ADD – anti-virus/anti-malware applications to your device. Update your devices’ operating systems and applications regularly to be protected by the latest security patches. Disable “Install Unknown App” or “Unknown Sources” in your phone settings. Do not grant permission to persistent popups that request for access to your device’s hardware or data.
- CHECK – the developer information on the application listing as well as the number of downloads and user reviews to ensure it is a reputable and legitimate application. Only download and install applications from official app stores (i.e., Google Play Store for Android).
- TELL – Authorities, family, and friends about scams. Report any fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately.
If you have already downloaded and installed the application or suspect that your phone is infected with malware, please take the following steps:
- Turn your phone to “flight mode”.
- Run an anti-virus scan on your phone.
- Check your bank account/Singpass/CPF etc for any unauthorised transaction(s) using other device(s).
- If there are unauthorised transaction(s), report to the bank, relevant authorities, and lodge a Police report.
- After completing steps a-c, if you believe that your phone has not been infected with malware, you may resume usage of your phone. As a further precaution, you may consider doing a “factory reset” of your phone and changing important passwords.
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!
Annex A
Screenshot of the Fake Facebook Postings ▼
Screenshot of the Webpage Containing the Fake GST Voucher App ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
11 August 2023 @ 5:45 PM