How many official impersonation scam cases were reported in Singapore last month?

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Over 100 Official Impersonation Scam Cases Reported in Singapore in September

In September, Singapore recorded more than 100 reported cases of official impersonation scams. These incidents resulted in victims losing a total of at least S$6.7 million (approximately RM22 million). The scams involved individuals falsely representing themselves as officers from major financial institutions.
Scammers Posed as Bank Officials

The impersonation scams frequently saw perpetrators claiming to be representatives of prominent banks such as DBS, OCBC, UOB, or Standard Chartered. Victims were initially contacted via phone calls, often with the scammers alleging suspicious transactions or issues with credit cards, prompting victims to "verify" these activities.
Deception Tactics Included Fake Credentials and Video Calls

Following the initial contact, victims who denied knowledge of the alleged transactions were often transferred to another scammer, who would impersonate a government official, frequently through messaging applications like WhatsApp. These individuals would then conduct video calls, using fabricated police or Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) badges and backdrops to create an illusion of legitimacy. In some instances, fake warrant cards or official documents were also presented to further deceive the victims.
Victims Were Tricked into Transferring Funds to "Safety Accounts"

The core of the scam involved accusing victims of criminal activities, such as money laundering. To facilitate a supposed investigation, victims were instructed to transfer their funds into designated "safety accounts." The realisation of being defrauded typically occurred when these scam "officials" became unreachable or after victims attempted to verify the legitimacy of their cases with their actual banks or the police.

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How many official impersonation scam cases were reported in Singapore last month?

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