ScamShield Alert - alerts about scammers

More than 185 cases with more than $852k lost to phishing scams involving fake buyers on online platforms (e.g. Carousell, Facebook marketplace) in Jan 2026. ❌ Never provide your banking log-in details to anyone. ✅ Report any suspicious users to the online marketplace platform. ✅ Report any fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately. 📱If in doubt, call and check with the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

Beware of impersonation scams! Scammers have been impersonating government officials, and alleging victims of being involved in criminal activities. Scammers would ask victims to transfer money, cryptocurrency or hand over valuables (gold, jewellery) for “investigation purposes”. ⚠️ More recently, scammers have been asking victims to purchase and hand over luxury watches to support investigations. ⌚️👀 😱 Victims would realise they are scammed when scammers become uncontactable. ⚠️Government Officials will NEVER ask you to: ❌️ Transfer money and/or cryptocurrency over the phone; or 💰💴 ❌️ Handover money, gold/luxury watches or other valuables via meet-ups. ⌚️ If you are asked to prepare cash or valuables for handover to an unknown person or place them for collection, DO NOT engage the caller further. Hang up and make a police report 📞 If you are unsure if something is a scam, call and check with the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

🚨 Scam Alert: Fake LTA SMS Messages 🚨 ⚠️Scammers are impersonating LTA to trick victims into paying “unpaid tolls” or fines through fake links. These messages may look real, but they are designed to steal your banking/credit/debit card details and money. ✅ Remember: Official LTA SMS messages do NOT contain payment links and are only sent from official "gov.sg" sender IDs. The LTA sender ID is no longer in use. 🔍 To check for real outstanding payments: Visit the One Motoring Website at Ссылка скрыта > Digital Services > Enquire Fines and Notices (login required). 📷: LTA Facebook

Monthly Scams Bulletin #2 (6 February 2026) ⚠️ E-COMMERCE SCAMS INVOLVING K-POP MERCHANDISE ON THE RISE Be wary when buying or pre-ordering K-pop merchandise on platforms like Carousell. Scammers have been convincing interested buyers to make initial deposits via PayNow or bank transfers to secure the items. Victims only realised they had been scammed when they failed to receive the products or when the sellers became uncontactable. 🚩Be wary of red flags such the seller asking to communicate out of platform, or requesting direct bank transfer payments. 🛡️ Protect yourself: ✅ Check the platform’s transaction safety ratings at go.gov.sg/mhatsr ✅ Use the platform’s secure payment option or make payment only after products have been delivered and inspected 📄 Read February’s Scam Bulletin to find out more. 📞 Unsure if it’s a scam? Call and check with the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799. 📱 You can also check suspicious messages, phone numbers and/or website links via the ScamShield app.

Straits Times 'ACT Against Scams' column series: Article 8 ⁉️E-commerce scams are the 2nd most reported scam type in the first half of 2025. 😮 Victims are attracted by deals on online marketplaces or social media platforms. After making payment, the promised goods or services would never arrive. 🗞️ Read the article to learn more! English - Ссылка скрыта 华语 - Ссылка скрыта Malay - Ссылка скрыта தமிழ் - Ссылка скрыта Shop smart, not just hard ✅ Buy from reputable sources. Check the e-commerce platforms’ safety ratings by MHA (go.gov.sg/mhatsr) ✅ Verify offers on social media adverts by checking directly with the company instead of clicking on links. ✅ Pay using secure payment options offered by the e-commerce platforms. ✅ Avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to the sellers. ✅ Do not click on links or install third-party mobile apps sent by sellers asking for upfront payments or to receive refunds ✅ Delivery fees are paid upfront when purchases are made. Always check for updates regarding your order on official websites or trusted sources as you wait for your parcel 📦 to arrive.

More than S$53.4mil lost to scams in December 2025! In December 2025, more than S$15.3mil was lost to scammers impersonating insurance/payment institutions (e.g. NTUC, UnionPay), and government officials (e.g. MAS and SPF). ⚠️ Remember, government officials will never ask you to transfer money over the phone. Unsure if something is a scam? Call and check with the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799. ☎️

📞 Received a call from your “bank” that later transfers you to the “Police”? That’s not a usual process. That’s a scam. 🧐 Watch how scammers impersonate banks and the Police, and allege victims’ involvement in criminal activity. Scammers would pressure victims to “cooperate” by transferring money or threaten legal actions by the "Police". ‼️ Unsure if it’s a scam? Stop. Hang up. Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 to check.‼️ ⚠️ REMEMBER: Government officials will NEVER ask you to: • Transfer money • Share bank login details or OTPs • Install apps from unofficial app stores • Or transfer your call to the Police Together, let’s ACT against scams! 💪 ▶️ IG: Ссылка скрыта ▶️ FB: Ссылка скрыта

Straits Times 'ACT Against Scams' column series: Article 7 😲 Did you know⁉️ Job scams are one of the common scam types in Singapore, with over $59 million lost in the first half of 2025. Victims are enticed by the money they can earn for simple and convenient online tasks. Three notable job scam variants include: 1. Completing online tasks 2. Setting up online business 3. Participating in online survey In all these situations, victims are always asked to use their own money to do the job. Victims only realise it is a scam when they cannot withdraw their "earnings/commissions". ❗ It is a scam, if the “job” requires you to: 🚩 Pay fees to secure the job 🚩Use your own money for tasks 🚩 Hand over your Singpass or bank account log-in details 🗞️ *Read the article to learn more!* English - Ссылка скрыта 华语 - Ссылка скрыта Malay - Ссылка скрыта தமிழ் - Ссылка скрыта Stay safe! Call and check with the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline @ 1799 if you are unsure if something is a scam.

Monthly Scams Bulletin #1 (2 January 2026) 🔥 Gotta catch ’em all? Don’t get caught by Pokémon trading card scams. With the upcoming Pokémon card launch, be wary of scammers listing fake Pokémon cards. Since October 2025, victims have lost at least $958,000 to Pokémon trading card scams on e-commerce platforms. 🛡️ Protect yourself: Only purchase Pokémon trading cards from authorised sellers. If you choose to purchase via e-commerce platforms: 👀 Look out for scam red flags, such as unusually large discounts offered for time-limited offers. 👀 Use secure payment options — avoid making advance payments or direct bank transfers to sellers. 👀 Consider cash on delivery, so you can inspect the products before making payment. 📄 Read January’s Scam Bulletin to find out more. 📞 Unsure if it’s a scam? Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799. 📱 You can also check suspicious messages, phone numbers and/or website links via the ScamShield app.