Government Officials Impersonation Scams

Victims would receive unsolicited phone calls or in-app calls (e.g. WhatsApp video call) allegedly from government agencies such as the Singapore Police Force (SPF) or the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The scammers would claim that there were issues with the victim’s bank accounts and required additional verification. Victims would then be asked to provide their banking or personal information such as banking credentials and One-Time Passwords (OTPs) to resolve these issues.

Victims may also be asked to show their identity cards, work permit or their bank cards when speaking to the “SPF” or “MOM” officer over the in-app video call. The victims would only discover that they had been scammed when they realised that there were unauthorised transactions made from their bank accounts.

At least S$151.3 million lost to scammers

Annual Scams and Cybercrime Brief 2024

Government officials will NEVER do these things over a phone call:

Ask you to transfer money;
Ask you to disclose banking details;
Ask you to install mobile apps from unofficial app stores;
Transfer your call directly to Police, except when you call 995 for life threatening-emergencies.

Additional Advisories

If you receive an SMS from the government, make sure it is sent from the gov.sgSMS Sender ID*.

Scammers may cite your personal information (e.g. name or NRIC number) to appear legitimate. Do not automatically trust someone just because he/she has your personal information. Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 to check if you are unsure if something is a scam.

*Exceptions apply for National Service calls-ups and emergency services. Read more about the exceptions

Overseas law enforcement agencies have no legal powers to require members of the public in Singapore to assist in their investigations without the approval of the Singapore government.

SPF officers will NEVER ask you to do the following over the phone or through text message:

Transfer money to the Police, bank accounts, or mobile numbers linked to bank accounts;
Request for your banking, SingPass and/or CPF related information;
Click on links that lead to bank websites;
Install apps outside of official app stores.

Examples of Government Officials Impersonation scams

How to stay safe

ADD:

ScamShield app to block scam calls and filter scam SMSes.
Anti-virus app to your devices (see recommendations by CSA).
Money Lock to your bank accounts to further secure a portion of your savings.
International Call Blocking option to your mobile account(s).
Security features such as 2 or multi-FA for your online accounts

CHECK:

With someone you trust about the situation.
Call the ScamShield Helpline (1799) to check if you are unsure.
Never disclose your personal information (including SingPass and CPF-related), internet banking and social media account details, and one-time passwords (OTPs) to anyone.
From 1 July 2024, all SMSes from government agencies will use a single gov.sg SMS Sender ID. Every text message will begin with the full name of the agency that sent it and end with a note stating that it is an automated message sent by the Singapore Government.

TELL:

Warn friends and family about this scam encounter.
Report and block suspected scam accounts/chat groups.
Call your bank immediately and make a police report if you think you have fallen victim.

Learn more about government officials impersonation scams

The Impersonation Scam That Almost Cost My Mum Her Life Savings

Urgent calls from the police or the bank? Learn how to know if it's a scam

More fall victim to scammers posing as local and foreign officials

Received an SMS from the Government? Here's an easy way to tell if it's real

Why people fall prey to scammers posing as police officers

Encountered this scam? Report it!

If you have transferred money to a scammer, please visit this page for a list of immediate actions: I've Been Scammed!

Help keep the community safe by reporting any instances of this scam you’ve seen or experienced with the ScamShield App.