A sophisticated scam involving deepfake artificial intelligence has reportedly cost a victim in Singapore at least S$4.9 million after scammers impersonated senior government officials and staged a fake Zoom meeting allegedly featuring Lawrence Wong.
According to the Singapore Police Force, scammers are now increasingly targeting business professionals who may have had prior interactions with government agencies or senior officials. Authorities issued a fresh warning on May 14 after multiple similar cases surfaced in recent weeks.
The fraudsters reportedly posed as high-ranking Singapore government representatives, including the Secretary to the Cabinet, to convince victims to attend confidential virtual meetings involving ministers and overseas officials.
Victims were allegedly instructed to provide their email addresses in order to receive a “Non-Disclosure Agreement” (NDA) before the meeting. They were also asked to submit signed copies of the NDA along with identification documents such as NRIC copies.
Fake Zoom Meeting Used Deepfake AI Technology
In one alarming case, the victim received a WhatsApp message using the profile image of Wong Hong Kuan, the Secretary to the Cabinet, inviting him to a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
The victim also received an email from a Proton Mail address claiming to belong to the Cabinet Secretary. The email requested “urgent funding assistance” linked to tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route frequently associated with geopolitical instability and oil supply concerns.
To make the scheme appear legitimate, the scammers allegedly attached what looked like an official government guarantee letter bearing the Prime Minister’s signature. The document claimed that any funds transferred would be reimbursed by the Singapore government within 15 business days.
The victim later joined a Zoom conference that appeared to include PM Wong and several local and foreign officials. Investigators later discovered that the meeting participants had been generated using deepfake AI technology, allowing scammers to create highly convincing fake video appearances.
Following the call, the victim transferred at least S$4.9 million through multiple transactions into a corporate bank account controlled by the scammers.
Police Warn Public Against Government Impersonation Scams
The victim eventually became suspicious and contacted the Secretary to the Cabinet directly on May 14, only to realise he had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam operation.
The police also revealed that three individuals were arrested and charged on May 9 in connection with SIM card-related offences linked to earlier cases using similar tactics.
Authorities stressed that Singapore government officials will never request money transfers, ask for banking credentials, instruct individuals to install unofficial applications, or pressure members of the public into confidential financial transactions.
The case highlights growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity threats, and online financial fraud targeting high-net-worth individuals and business professionals in Singapore.
Members of the public are advised to independently verify identities before transferring money, especially when approached through messaging apps, email, or video conferencing platforms. Experts have also warned that deepfake technology is becoming increasingly convincing, making digital identity verification more critical than ever in the era of AI-driven scams.