Who is being targeted by these fake social media accounts?

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Fake Social Media Accounts Target Prominent Singaporean Figures

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has alerted the public to the existence of fake Facebook profiles impersonating him, which have been actively sending friend requests and adding individuals within his network. This situation is not isolated to Heng Swee Keat, as several other high-profile Singaporean political figures have also been targeted by similar online impersonation scams.
Impersonation of Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat

The fake profiles impersonating Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat have gone as far as to add friends and send friend requests to individuals connected to him. Heng himself posted on October 30, urging the public to exercise caution and not be deceived by these fraudulent accounts. He clarified that his verified social media presence, including his Facebook and Instagram accounts, can be identified by a blue checkmark and his official handle, @hengsweekeat.
Broader Trend of Impersonation Scams

This recent warning follows an earlier alert in June concerning a phishing email scam that used Heng Swee Keat's name. The issue of impersonation scams appears to be a growing trend targeting public figures in Singapore. These scams have also affected other prominent individuals, including Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon, who have also been victims of similar fake accounts on social media platforms.
Exploitation of High-Profile Individuals

The likenesses of other senior government officials have also been exploited. Deepfake scams have been used to impersonate Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Furthermore, online advertisements have surfaced that inappropriately use the name and image of Opposition Leader Pritam Singh, indicating a widespread pattern of individuals and entities attempting to leverage the public profiles of political leaders for deceptive purposes.

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