Scammers impersonate SIMBA staff before posing as police and MAS officers in S$1.3 million scam
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has warned of a government official impersonation scam that begins with a call from someone claiming to be from telco SIMBA, with at least 59 cases and losses of at least S$1.3 million reported in October 2026 alone. Victims receive unsolicited calls from scammers claiming to represent SIMBA, who say the victim has bought iPhones or signed up for mobile…
Singapore's Singapore Police Force (SPF) has issued a warning concerning a scam involving impersonation of Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SIMBA), police, and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) officials. At least 59 cases of this scam were reported in October 2026, with victims collectively losing S$1.3 million. The scam begins with a call from someone claiming to be from SIMBA, alleging that the victim purchased iPhones or signed up for mobile plans or packages.
Upon denying this, the victim is transferred to another scammer who claims to be a SIMBA customer service representative. They inform the victim that personal details were misused and an investigation is needed. A third scammer then poses as a police or MAS officer, instructing the victim to transfer money to unknown bank accounts or hand over valuables.
The SPF advises the public that government officials will not request money transfers, disclosure of banking details, or installation of apps from unverified sources. To avoid falling victim to this scam, individuals are urged to use the ScamShield app, enable security features, and verify any suspicious claims directly with SIMBA or the relevant organization.
Written by urgent.news from The Independent Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
