The Police would like to alert members of the public to a rising trend of phishing scams involving unpaid vehicle-related bills or fines. Since December 2022, at least 317 victims have fallen prey, with total losses amounting to at least $557,000.
Victims of such phishing scams would receive text messages, purportedly from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), notifying them of unpaid bills or fines. Victims would click on a Uniform Resource Locater (URL) link embedded in the messages to view information regarding the alleged bills or fines. Upon clicking on the URL links, victims would be directed to fraudulent websites, where they would be required to provide their credit/debit card details and One Time Passwords (OTPs). Victims only realised that they had been scammed after discovering unauthorised transactions made to their credit or debit cards.
The LTA would like to inform members of the public that LTA does not notify road users of unpaid bills or fines via text messages or request for payments for offence notices, vehicle registration, and licensing matters via URL links embedded in text messages. Instead, members of the public will be asked to check on their outstanding fines and vehicle-related payments on the OneMotoring website. The required payments must be done separately on LTA’s e-payment services, internet banking or at AXS or SAM stations.
The Police would like to advise members of the public to stay vigilant and to adopt these crime prevention measures:
- Do not click on URL links provided in these unsolicited text messages;
- Always verify the authenticity of the information with the official sources or website;
- Never disclose your personal or Internet banking details and OTP to anyone; and
- Report any fraudulent transactions to your bank and cancel your card immediately.
If you have 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. 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. Join the ‘Spot the Signs. Stop the Crimes’ campaign at www.scamalert.sg/fight by signing up as an advocate to receive up-to-date messages and share them with your family and friends. Together, we can help stop scams and prevent our loved ones from becoming the next victim.
Example of a fraudulent text message:
Example of an unauthorised transaction made to a victim’s card:
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
10 January 2023 @ 6:35 PM