At least $8.8m lost to scammers claiming to be ICA officers, fake ads offering help to get S’pore PR
At least 148 cases have been reported in the two different types of scams since January.
In the first instance of scams, victims suffered a total loss of at least $8.4 million over 117 incidents since January. Scammers impersonating Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers would call claiming personal details had been misused or linked to criminal activities. Victims were instructed to transfer funds or meet unknown individuals to sign false documents.
In the second scenario, scams involved fake advertisements on social media platforms offering assistance for obtaining Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) status. Clicking on these ads led to a fraudulent consultancy website where victims were asked to submit personal information and pay fees, purportedly to enhance their chances of approval.
This process involved investing in businesses, purchasing academic credentials, or making donations. Victims were directed to make bank transfers or pay in cash to unknown individuals, before receiving a fake automated e-mail appearing to be from ICA with a forged IPA letter. The ICA has been notified of at least 31 cases involving such fake e-mails, causing losses of at least $400,000.
ICA warned against engaging commercial entities claiming to aid in securing PR status, advising applicants to apply directly through their website. The police and ICA reminded the public not to disclose banking details, install unauthorized apps, or transfer calls to government officials. They advised using the ScamShield app and checking for signs of scam through official channels, including the ScamShield app and the SIMCardHowMany tool for verifying phone numbers.
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