Scam Details

Impersonation Scam

As of December 2021

752

victims

Have fallen prey to scammers

S$106.4

million

Total amount lost to scammers

S$6.2

million

Largest amount lost by an individual

WHAT IS AN Impersonation Scam?

This scam usually involves a phone call or in-app call (e.g WhatsApp) from someone claiming to be a local government official (e.g. government official, police officer or court official), staff from a bank or telco, or a representative of a Chinese bank or courier company.

Look out for these scam signs

Requests for your personal details

Calls or messages from courier companies, telcos, e-commerce platforms or government agencies asking for personal details, bank account details or OTPs.

Uses scare tactics

Caller claims you have committed an offence, have pending court cases, account issues, and threatens to escalate the matter to higher authorities if you do not cooperate.

Numbers with the "+" prefix

Numbers with a '+' prefix are not necessarily from Singapore, so beware.

Unsolicited phone calls or messages

Unexpected messages or calls with no prior contact with the person or organisation. Person is unable to provide specific details of the situation but pressures you for personal details.

How to stay safe

Don't pick up calls from these numbers unless you're expecting an overseas call.

Do not disclose your personal details to anyone without verification. Never share confidential information such as account passwords, OTPs with anyone. Banks and government officials will never ask you for bank transfers, personal details, bank account and credit card details, or OTPs over the phone.

Hang up immediately if the caller cannot identify themselves properly. Always verify the authenticity of the information or request through official websites, apps, email or call the company's hotline.

Do not click on URLs in unsolicited emails or text messages.

Do not act on requests for sensitive and personal information without verification, especially if the request is made out of the blue. If in doubt, ask someone you trust for a second opinion.

Impersonation Scam: Real Stories

View all

08 Jun 2023 | Impersonation Scam

Caller claiming to be a friend turned out to be a scammer

I received a call from an unknown male individual who addressed me by name, saying, "Hi Amos, long time no see. Do you remember who I am?" To test his authenticity, I asked him, "Do you remember the $500…...

08 Jun 2023 | Impersonation Scam

Beware of fake calls asking for financial assistance

On Saturday, I received a call from someone who claimed to be a close Malaysian friend of mine. The voice on the other end sounded exactly like my friend, which made me believe it was her. The person…...

07 Jun 2023 | Impersonation Scam

Be wary of unknown phone calls from 'friends'

I received a call from a man who claimed he had changed his phone and asked me to record his new number. I questioned his identity, and he responded by saying I couldn't recognize his voice. Since he…...

GET SCAM-RELATED ADVICE: CALL 1800-722-6688 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, excl. PH)

GET SCAM-RELATED ADVICE:
CALL 1800-722-6688
(Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, excl. PH)

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Find out more at scamshield.org.sg.