5 Local Scams to Watch Out For & How to Stay Safe

Singapore is known for its efficiency and safety, but it’s not immune to fraudsters. With digital platforms becoming an integral part of our lives, cybercriminals have found new ways to exploit unsuspecting victims.

From love scams to phishing traps, read this guide to some of the most common scams in Singapore and how you can protect yourself.

#1: LOVE SCAMS

Imagine building an emotional connection with someone online, only to find out that their affection was a lie designed to drain your bank account. Love scams typically involve fake online relationships, where the scammer eventually asks for money, often citing urgent personal crises.

PROTECT YOURSELF: Be cautious when interacting with people online, especially if you’ve never met them in person. Avoid sending money to anyone you haven’t met, no matter how convincing their story may be.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

#2: TELEGRAM SCAMS

Telegram has become a popular messaging app, but its privacy features are also being exploited by illegal groups. From drug deals to illicit pet trades, scammers operate within seemingly harmless chat groups. Users are often lured in with attractive offers and end up becoming victims of fraud or even criminal investigations.

PROTECT YOURSELF: Join reputable and verified groups on Telegram. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.

#3: PHISHING SCAMS

Phishing scams involve fraudulent emails or text messages that trick you into revealing personal information like your bank account details or passwords. Scammers often impersonate legitimate companies or even government agencies.

PROTECT YOURSELF: Many apps, including Google’s new Android upgrade, offer features to block scam messages and prevent harmful apps from being installed. Enable these features and keep your apps updated to ensure you’re protected from the latest threats.

Furthermore, never click on links from unknown or suspicious sources. Instead, double-check the URLs of websites you visit to ensure they’re legitimate.

#4: E-COMMERCE SCAMS

Online shopping is convenient, but it also opens doors for e-commerce scams. Fraudsters often create fake online stores or advertise products at ridiculously low prices, only to disappear once payments are made.

PROTECT YOURSELF: Stick to trusted e-commerce platforms with strong buyer protection policies. Then, regularly read reviews before making a purchase.

#5: JOB SCAMS

Looking for a new job? Be careful of job scams, where fraudulent job offers are used to extract personal information or request upfront payments for job allocations. These scams usually promise high pay for minimal work, which is a major red flag.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

PROTECT YOURSELF: Legitimate employers will never ask for payment during the hiring process. Verify job offers through official company websites or directly with their HR department.

Sources: 1,2, 3, & 4

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Two People Arrested for Suspected Involvement in SIM Card Fraudulent Scheme

In a three-week islandwide operation to disrupt fraud syndicates, the police made significant progress by arresting two individuals involved in fraudulent activities related to postpaid SIM cards. The operation, which happened from May 8 to May 31, resulted in the termination of over 1,000 mobile phone lines, freezing of approximately 50 bank accounts, and the seizing of more than S$210,000. The suspects, a 23-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, were apprehended for their suspected involvement in illegally registering postpaid SIM cards using customers’ personal information.

The Illegal Scheme

Preliminary investigations revealed that the 23-year-old man, who worked as a mobile phone store assistant, gained access to customers’ identification documents through the company’s mobile device used for SIM card registration. Exploiting this opportunity, he illicitly registered postpaid SIM cards using unsuspecting customers’ details and sold them to individuals who desired to purchase SIM cards without disclosing their identities.

The investigation also uncovered the alleged involvement of a 26-year-old woman who aided the man’s offenses. She established a shell company to procure unregistered postpaid SIM cards from a supplier, further enabling the illegal scheme. This discovery emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach in tackling such criminal activities, not only targeting individuals but also uncovering the networks that support their illicit operations.

The Arrests

During the operation, law enforcement authorities seized various items including mobile phones and postpaid SIM cards, providing crucial evidence for the ongoing investigation. Additionally, 25 men and three women, aged between 22 and 43, are currently assisting the police in their investigation. It appears that these individuals’ identities may have been stolen and misused as part of the fraudulent SIM registration scheme.

Image Credits: Singapore Police Force

The Ongoing Investigations

The offense of illegally obtaining personal information carries a maximum jail period of three years and a fine. Unauthorized modification of computer material is punishable by a fine of up to S$10,000, a jail period of up to three years, or both. Failing to exercise reasonable diligence as a director may result in a fine of up to S$5,000 or a jail period of up to twelve months.

The police emphasized that fraudulently registered postpaid SIM cards pose a significant risk as they can serve as anonymous communication channels for illicit activities such as unlicensed moneylending and frauds. Scam syndicates often employ these SIM cards to contact victims and communicate among themselves, making detection challenging for law enforcement agencies.

The Public Awareness

The police are determined to track down mobile phone retailers and assistants who may inadvertently facilitate illegal activities. In light of this, the public is advised to avoid purchasing pre-registered prepaid or postpaid SIM cards and to safeguard their identification documents to prevent misuse during registration.

Image Credits: Singapore Police Force

Furthermore, individuals should exercise caution when approached to be appointed as directors for companies and ensure that they fulfill their duties diligently. Negligence in supervisory roles may result in a company being involved in criminal activities. Through their ongoing investigations and continued efforts, the police aim to safeguard public interests, protect personal information, and maintain the integrity of mobile phone retail practices.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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Man Arrested for Allegedly Cloning Cards to Withdraw Cash from ATMs

A 27-year-old man has been arrested for suspected possession of cloned cards and equipment used for creating cloned cards. On Feb 7 (Tuesday), the police received a report that a cloned metal card was used to make a withdrawal at an automated teller machine (ATM). The name of the bank and other details were not disclosed. After follow-up investigations, Commercial Affairs Department officers determined the identity of the man and arrested him on Feb 16 (Thursday).

HE CLONED OVER 60 ORIGINAL PAYMENT CARDS

The police stated that the man is believed to have copied the card details from the magnetic stripes of more than sixty original payment cards. These details were later encoded into blank metal cards, which he had acquired online.

Moreover, he is also believed to have removed and transferred the Mastercard, Europay, and Visa chips to the blank metal cards. The police added that a laptop, blank metal cards, an engraving machine, a card encoder, two notebooks, a point-of-sale (POS) reader machine and some cloned metal payment cards were seized as case exhibits.

HE COULD FACE UP TO 15 YEARS JAIL TIME

An imprisonment term of up to five years, fine, or both could be sentenced to anyone found guilty of possessing machines and equipment, which are specifically designed or adapted for making any false instrument. Those found guilty of possessing a forged valuable security could face up to 15 years jail time or a fine.

POLICE INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING

Details are being finalized as police investigations are ongoing. The police highlighted the importance of this matter as they take a serious view of any person who may have been involved in the production and possession of cloned payment cards. Perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

To protect yourself and your details from being copied, it is best not to share your card’s PIN to anyone. Additionally, you should avoid storing your card information on your phone. You can also set up a two-step authentication for online transactions. Stay vigilant!

Sources: 1 & 2

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‘Tis the Season to Avoid Romance Scammers

Romance scammers profess their love quickly, without actually meeting you. This is the first sign of an online dating fraud. Online dating and sextortion scams can poke a deep hole in your wallet and your heart. Saying he or she loves you can be a tactic to make you give up personal details and answer security questions to open your bank accounts.

Guard your personal details and be wary of your new love interest by following these tips.

#1: BE VIGILANT OF BAD GRAMMAR

It is one thing to use slang and emojis, it is another to constantly commit grammatical errors. Sweetheart scammers are often operating outside of Singapore, so pay attention for grammatical errors and misspelled words.

#2: OFFER A PUBLIC MEETING

A surefire way to get to know someone is by meeting them in person. Choose a safe, public space that will make you feel comfortable. If your sweetheart scammer refuses to meet you in person after asking multiple times, take it as a sign that he or she is probably lying to you.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

#3: DO NOT GIVE IN

Strangers asking you for favors and money send a red flag. Consult your trusted friend and family members if you are unsure of an online relationship. It is best to avoid giving money to strangers.

#4: DO A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH

Do your research by typing his or her name on Google and social media platforms. Your snooping habits should give you a clear impression if the person is real or a catfish. Remember to reverse search their social media profile images through Google.

#5: DO NOT SEND SENSITIVE PHOTOS

Sextortion is a serious crime that involves a perpetrator threatening to publish private and explicit information to others if you do not give in to the perpetrator’s demands. These demands usually involve money or sexual favors. Despite how deep your affection is towards a person, please avoid sending sensitive, personal photos.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Get to know the person better. Cross-check a person’s name, photo, location, email address and other details for legitimacy.

Sources: 1 & 2

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How To Not Get Scammed While Shopping Online

Whether a victim shops from an unverified website or replies to a phishing email, online shopping scams are transactions that can take advantage of you. Avoiding these scams starts with the awareness of its existence and reading the fine prints!

Maximize Your Credit Card Protection

As an international payment platform, PayPal is subjected to the presence of schemes. More often than not, PayPal scams happen when victims are made to believe that they are paying through PayPal. Scammers mimic the PayPal website and its confirmation email to lure their preys.

Or, “interested buyers” may send fake confirmations that the payment has been made. This will prompt you to ship your product.

Stay vigilant! The PayPal community highlights that they will never send an email asking for the following:

* full bank or credit card number,
* debit card PIN number,
* driver’s license numbers,
* a listing of your email addresses,
* a listing of your physical addresses
* your full name,
* your password to PayPal or any other accounts, and
* the answers to your security questions

Shop At Legitimate Sites

It goes without saying that the first thing you have to ensure is the credibility of the website. You must check if the URL begins with an “https”. Having this means that the website is secured. The “s” indicates an additional layer of security known as the SSL or Secured Socket Layer.

For websites you have not heard about, it is recommended to read reviews about the company and its products. You may also make a small initial purchase to see whether the company is legitimate or not. This way, you can feed your curiosity while staying on the safe side.

Beware Of “Too Good To Be True” Offers

Three years ago, I was rummaging through several websites to find an iPhone model and price that I am comfortable with. I realized that I have to be cautious when it comes to filthy cheap deals. There are hundreds of those online! After purchasing, I checked the authenticity of an iPhone through its manufacturing numbers as well as through the Apple support. Much like this scenario, you must steer away from out-of-this-world offers.

Consider your health and wellness as a top priority while shopping online. Do not believe grandiose claims or get sucked into fake offers.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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