The Singapore Police Force (SPF) would like to remind members of public to remain vigilant against Government Official Impersonation Scams that involve locals acting as cash mules to collect monies from scam victims. In December 2024, there were at least two police reports lodged, involving elderly victims with total losses amounting to $1 million and $4.9 million for the respective cases.
In this variant, victims would receive an unsolicited call from a scammer impersonating as telecommunication officials (e.g. Singtel, Starhub). The scammer would inform the victim that their mobile number has been used for criminal activities overseas before transferring the call to a second scammer purporting to be from overseas law enforcement agencies. In one of the cases, the scammer impersonated an overseas law enforcement officer by showing the victim a police identification card sent through a WhatsApp disappearing message and delivering fake documentation to the victim’s house to reinforce the deceit. The scammer would proceed to deceive victims into withdrawing monies out of their bank account and handing them over to an unknown person (e.g. cash mule) for “safe keeping”. If victim is unable to withdraw the monies out, another person would be sent to meet the victim to assist her with the process.
Victims would realise that they had been scammed when the scammers become uncontactable or when they seek verification of the status of their situation with SPF.
We would like to inform members of public that foreign police forces do not have powers to conduct investigation in Singapore or direct anyone in Singapore to assist in their investigations. Officers from the SPF identify ourselves with a physical warrant card and do not send images of warrant cards for identification. SPF will never ask members of public to withdraw and hand over monies for “safe keeping” or for investigations.
Members of the public are encouraged to adopt the following precautionary measures:
- ADD – Add the ScamShield app to block and filter SMSes. Set up security features (e.g. set up transaction limits for internet banking transactions / credit/debit card transactions, enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Multifactor Authentication for banks and e-wallets, use the Money Lock feature of your bank to “lock up” a portion of your money so that it cannot be transferred out digitally by anyone, further protecting your savings from scams). Do not transfer money or hand cash in person to anyone you do not know or have not met in person before. Do not disclose sensitive information such as your house address, bank / card details and One-Time Passwords (OTPs) to anyone.
- CHECK – Check for scam signs with official sources such as the ScamShield Helpline (1799). You can also check the legitimacy of suspicious messages, phone numbers and website links via the ScamShield app or visit the ScamShield website at www.scamshield.gov.sg. Ask for, check the warrant cards and report to the Singapore Police on all persons claiming to be from foreign police forces.
- TELL – Tell the Singapore Police if any unknown person visits you to deliver official investigative documents or order you to withdraw money as part of their investigation. Tell the authorities, family, and friends about scams. Report and block suspected scam accounts/chat groups. Call your bank immediately and make a police report if you think you have fallen victim.
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/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
22 January 2025 @ 5:02 PM