Police issue warning over compromised Telegram accounts due to fake public transport voucher links
Scammers will be able to seize control of the victims' Telegram account once they provide the OTP.
Singapore's police have issued a warning about a resurgence of a scam involving compromised Telegram accounts. The scam takes place when victims click on links offering counterfeit public transport vouchers. The police issued a statement on August 13, explaining that victims receive a Telegram message containing a fraudulent infographic claiming eligibility for the voucher.
The message also includes a deceptive link, which, when clicked, leads to a website demanding personal information. Such details include the victim's name, mobile number, NRIC number, and a Telegram verification code.
Once scammers obtain the OTP, they can seize control of the victim's Telegram account. Compromised accounts are then used to send similar phishing links to the victim's contacts or to join chat groups promoting fraudulent investment schemes. Victims typically discover their accounts have been compromised when their contacts report receiving unexpected messages from them or notice unauthorized activity on Telegram.
The police emphasized that the Ministry of Transport will never send messages via Telegram or request users to click on a link to claim a voucher. They also stated that legitimate public transport voucher information will only be communicated through official MOT channels such as the website or authorized social media accounts. To protect themselves, the police advised the public to enable two-step verification and refrain from sharing verification codes or OTP with anyone. They should also avoid providing personal details in response to unsolicited messages.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
