News Summary: Singapore Police Warn Of Chinese Messaging & Paying Platform Impersonation Scams

Summary: Police Advisory Issued on 4 April 2025 Warns Against Impersonation Scams Involving Chinese Messaging and Payment Platforms

 

In 2025, impersonation scams targeting Chinese messaging and payment platforms such as WeChat, UnionPay and AliPay users are on the rise in Singapore. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued an advisory on the impersonation scams involving those platforms. Since January 2025, at least 678 such cases have been reported, with total losses amounting to at least S$ 7.4 million. 

How This Scam Works

 

In this scam variant, victims will receive unsolicted calls from local mobile numbers such as “8xxx xxxx” or “+65 xxxx xxxx”, impersonating WeChat, UnionPay or AliPay. The scammer will inform victims that a subscription they have signed up for (e.g insurance coverage, WeChat subscription, or AliPay subscription) was about to expire. The scammer will then direct victims to WhatsApp to continue the conversation. 

 

The scammers will let the victims know that fees will be automatically deducted from their bank accounts to renew their accounts unless they cancel their subscriptions. The scammers will then request the victims' personal information to verify their identities. Victims are also asked to verify their bank accounts by transferring money to a specified bank account. 

 

The fraudsters will sometimes guide the victims through WhatsApp’s video call function. They will ensure that victims will get their money refunded after the successful cancellation of their subscriptions. In some cases, the scammer might try to bolster their credibility or pressure victims by pretending to be a government body and their staff. 

 

Some scammers might send victims fake documents of the alleged subscription, with their personal information printed on them, through WhatsApp. Scammers might also send victims fake documents of a court order or an arrest warrant from MAS, with the victim's details printed on them, through WhatsApp.

 

Another tactic that scammers employ to look credible is redirecting users to another text with a scammer impersonating an MAS officer. The MAS officer will inform victims that their bank accounts have been compromised with money laundering operations and will have to transfer monies to a specified bank account to assist with "investigations". In some cases, the scammers will call the victim, impersonating a MAS officer wearing a blue uniform. 

 

Victims will only realise that they have been scammed after the scammers become uncontactable or when they do not receive the promised funds. 

Police Advisory To Stay Safe 

 

The police have issued advisories on some steps you can take to stay safe from such impersonation scams in Singapore. 

 

How to Spot Impersonation Scams in Singapore 

 

1) Remember that a "+" prefix on a phone number means that the call originated from overseas. Think twice before picking up the call. 

 

2) Do not trust someone just because he/she has your personal information, e.g. your name, your NRIC, and your date of birth. 

 

3) Do not transfer money to unknown persons, especially on the internet. 

 

4) Do not share your screen when you are conducting online bank transactions. Scammers can easily obtain your banking details or other sensitive information. 

 

5) Messages from the Singapore government will only come with the "gov.sg" SMS sender ID. 

 

6) MAS officers do not have the power to issue arrest warrants, nor do they wear uniforms. If you see an "MAS officer" through video call wearing uniforms or threatening to arrest you, they are a scam. Ignore them and hang up the phone. 

 

Singapore Government Official Permissions Over Phone 

 

1) They will never ask you to transfer money. 

 

2) They will never ask for bank details. 

 

3) They will never ask you to download external apps from unofficial app stores. 

 

4) They will never transfer your call directly to other governmental branches, except when you call 995 for life-threatening emergencies. 

Precautionary Measures Against Scams 

 

The police advise the adoption of the following precautionary measures to stay safe from scams in Singapore.

 

1) ADD - Add the Scamshield app to your phones to block scam calls and filter scam SMSs. Set transaction limits for daily banking transactions and turn on notifications for banking activity. Activate "Money Lock" to "lock up" bank funds that will not be frequently used. Alert the bank if you suspect any fraudulent activity. 

 

2) CHECK - Check for scam signs with official sources such as the Scamshield app or Scam.SG. Check for scam companies with Scam.SG's TrustScore. Read scam prevention articles on Scam.SG for tips on how to avoid common scams in Singapore. Call and check with the 24/7 Scamshield Helpline at 1799. 

 

3) TELL - Tell the authorities, such as the police, if you suspect a scam. Report to your bank's anti-scam hotline if your bank account is compromised. Block fraudulent transactions and freeze accounts if needed. Report the scam to Scam.SG to help others learn from your experience. Tell family and friends about scams to keep each other safe. 

 

For more information on scams, visit the Scamshield website at www.scamshield.gov.sg. Learn more about common scams and prevention advice on Scam.SG. Together, we can ACT against scams. 

[Screenshot of scammer text messages]

 

 

[Screenshot of Fake MAS Court Order ]

 

[Screenshot of scammer claiming to be WeChat support staff]

 

[Screenshot of fake UnionPay documentation]

 

Impersonation Scam 

 

Impersonation scams in Singapore refer to a fraudulent scheme where a scammer pretends to be someone trusted to gain information or get you to transfer money. They can impersonate bank staff, government officers or even friends and family. 

 

In this case, the scammers impersonate bank support staff and government officers to get victims to transfer money and personal information. Unfortunate victims who are not vigilant will easily believe such impersonations. The scammers might also create a sense of urgency or panic to get victims to act without much thought. It is important to know what to do when you encounter impersonation fraud in Singapore. 

 

In Singapore, impersonation scams are a big threat. Government impersonation scams alone contributed S$151.3 million in 2024 to the total scam losses of Singapore. This was a stark increase from S$92.5 million in 2023, which goes to show the rising threat of impersonation scams in Singapore. (Source: 2024 Annual Scams and Cybercrime Brief by the SPF)

 

Learn how to stay safe from impersonation scams in Singapore with Scam.SG. Explore warning signs and how to spot them. Discover ways to avoid impersonation scams and how to protect your loved ones. 

Phishing Scams 

 

Phishing scams in Singapore are fraudulent schemes where online scammers trick people into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, usernames and/or banking credentials through fraudulent emails, text messages, or phone calls. These scams are often disguised as legitimate communications from official channels like banks, government agencies, or well-known companies in Singapore.

 

In this case, the scammers impersonate bank support staff and government officers to get victims to transfer money and personal information. To phish sensitive information and money from the victims, the scammers also make fake documents and identification cards to create a sense of trust. Unfortunate victims who are not vigilant will easily believe such impersonations and phishing methods. The scammers might also create a sense of urgency or panic to get victims to act without much thought. It is important to know what to do when you encounter phishing fraud in Singapore. 

 

In Singapore, phishing scams are a growing threat. Phishing scams contributed a total of S$59.4 million to the annual scam losses for Singaporeans. This was an increase from S$14.2 million in 2023. This increase is drastic and just goes to show the growing threat that phishing scams pose in Singapore. 

Source: 2024 Annual Scams and Cybercrime Brief by the SPF

 

Learn how to stay safe from phishing scams in Singapore with Scam.SG. Explore warning signs and how to spot them. Discover ways to avoid phishing scams and how to protect your loved ones.