At least $4.8m lost to scams involving conmen posing as Harvey Norman staff since January
Scammers would claim that victims had purchased a TV set or have a pending delivery confirmation.
Since January, there have been at least 119 reported scams involving individuals posing as Harvey Norman employees, resulting in losses exceeding $4.8 million. The police issued an advisory on September 21 to warn of a rise in these scams, which also involve impersonating government officials. This scam tactic was first reported by the Straits Times on September 14. Harvey Norman reported 1,588 scam-related inquiries since May, excluding walk-in inquiries, which were mostly from middle-aged to elderly individuals.
In this scam, victims receive unsolicited calls from fraudsters claiming to be Harvey Norman employees. They say the victim has purchased a TV set or has a pending delivery confirmation. When the victim denies making the purchase, the scammer claims that personal details have been misused and further investigation is needed. This leads to transferring money to a "safe account" or withdrawing cash, purchasing gold bars, or handing over valuables for "investigation purposes."
Victims usually realize they've been scammed only after making multiple transfers without receiving refunds.
The police reminded the public that government officials will never ask for money transfers, personal details, or disclosure of bank log-in information. They urged caution against giving out such information, especially in unsolicited calls or messages. The police advised setting up security features like two-factor authentication and transaction limits for internet banking. Checking scam signs through official sources like the ScamShield app or website is recommended.
Those who encounter scams should report the incident to authorities, family, and friends, and to their banks immediately. For help, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Harvey Norman briefed its staff and provided guidelines to identify and respond to scam calls. They urged consumers to be vigilant and verify any suspicious calls through official channels. Customers should avoid sharing ID and banking details with unsolicited individuals and should only transact through verified channels.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
