On 19 December 2023, the Anti-Scam Centre (ASC) partnered and worked with Great Eastern and OCBC to avert losses of more than S$250,000 in a Government Official Impersonation Scam case. 

In this case, a 67-year-old victim had received a phone call on 2 December 2023, from a first scammer who impersonated a Government official from China, alleging that the victim had suspicious funds in a bank account under her name in China and accused the victim of having committed a crime. The first scammer then transferred the victim’s call to a second scammer impersonating another Government official from China. On 13 December 2023, under the instructions of the second scammer, the victim opened a new UOB bank account under her name, purportedly to assist in investigations, and provided the internet-banking credentials of the account to the scammer. The victim was also told to withdraw all her money from other bank accounts and liquidate her insurance policies to deposit into the UOB account.

On 18 December 2023, on the instruction of the second scammer, the victim went to Great Eastern at Jurong East to liquidate her insurance policies. The surrender value monies were to be deposited into the victim’s OCBC account. This was detected by a Great Eastern customer service officer who found the victim’s account for the surrender suspicious. The victim claimed that the money was for the purchase of a house and renovation fees but was unable to provide more details when probed further. Despite having to make a loss for the early surrender of her four insurance policies, the victim insisted on proceeding with the surrender, further raising the suspicion of the Great Eastern customer service officer. He promptly escalated the case to OCBC, who reached out to the ASC for intervention. 

The ASC immediately worked with OCBC to prevent the victim from making any further transactions while ASC officers swiftly engaged the victim at her residence, successfully convincing her that she had fallen for a scam. The ASC also acted on the UOB account which was under the control of the second scammer. The alertness of the Great Eastern customer service officer, and the timely intervention by OCBC staff and ASC officers prevented the victim from potentially losing over S$250,000.

Mr Beaver Chua, OCBC’s Head of Anti-Fraud, Group Financial Crime Compliance, said: “OCBC is committed to working closely with the Police to fight scams and protect customers’ funds.”

The Police would like to alert members of the public to the variant of Government Official Impersonation Scam, where scammers would impersonate officers from government organisations and accuse victims of their involvement in criminal or money laundering activities overseas. The scam occurs in the following way:

1. Members of the public would receive unsolicited calls from the first scammer who would impersonate a bank officer. The first scammer would allege that the victims have outstanding credit card charges on their cards that are linked to criminal or money laundering activities.
   
2. The first scammer would then transfer the victim’s call to a second scammer purporting to be a Government official. The second scammer would inform the victims that they were under investigation for criminal or money laundering activities. The communication between the second scammer and the victim may subsequently move to messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram. The second scammer would then instruct the victims to do any of the following:

1. relinquish bank account details; 
   
2. transfer money to a third-party bank account purportedly to assist in investigations; 
   
3. open new bank accounts;
   
4. meet unknown subjects to handover / collect / sign fake documents; 
   
5. report their whereabouts and told not to divulge details about the investigation. 
   
6. Members of the public are advised to adopt the following precautionary measures:

ADD – ScamShield App and security features (e.g. enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Multifactor Authentication for banks and set up transaction limits for internet banking transactions, including PayNow). 

CHECK – For scam signs with official sources (e.g. ScamShield WhatsApp bot @ https://go.gov.sg/scamshield-bot, call the Anti-Scam Helpline on 1800-722-6688, or visit www.scamalert.sg). Never install software from unverified sources as they may be remote access software allowing others to observe what you do on your device or even take control of it. Additionally, you should never allow others to watch you enter your personal particulars or bank login details. 

TELL – Authorities, family, and friends about scams and do not be pressured by the caller to act impulsively. Report the number to WhatsApp and Telegram to initiate in-app blocking and report any fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately.

If you have any information relating to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential. If you require urgent Police assistance, please dial ‘999’. 

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can ACT Against Scams to safeguard our community!

In the heart of Singapore’s Orchard area, a vibrant nightlife entertainment establishment in Cuppage Plaza, Koek Road, has recently posted an intriguing job opportunity on the MyCareersFuture.sg portal. This government agency website, dedicated to listing jobs for Singaporeans and permanent residents, is not your typical platform for such positions, making this recruitment catch the attention of job seekers.

The Job Listing

Overview

The job advertisement, posted on Jan. 7 and closing on Feb. 6, is in search of a multi-talented individual to fill the role of a “KTV – Performing Artiste.” The monthly salary for this position falls between S$8,000 and S$12,000, adding an element of allure to the opportunity.

Responsibilities

1. On-Stage Performance: The primary duty involves captivating a live audience with engaging performances.
2. Expression through Art: The artiste is expected to convey emotions and ideas through various mediums, including body movement, spoken language, facial expression, and action.
3. Collaboration and Rehearsals: Regular attendance at rehearsals and collaboration with other band members is crucial for a seamless performance.
4. Fine-Tuning with Music Director: Working closely with the music director to refine and enhance overall performances.
5. Logistics Coordination: Ensuring the timely arrival of musical instruments or props at gigs.
6. Adaptability to Criticism: Interpreting and incorporating constructive criticism from directors into performances.
7. Memorization Skills: Ability to memorize lines or musical notes.

Job Requirements

The applicant is expected to possess the following qualities:

1. Talented and Creative: Proficiency in various styles, connecting with diverse audiences, and attracting customers to the club.
2. Musical Expertise: The ability to sing a wide range of songs to entertain audiences.
3. Effective Communication: Good communication skills with both audiences/customers and colleagues.
4. Dance Proficiency: The capability to dance skillfully on stage.
5. Flexibility: Willingness to work during weekends and public holidays.
6. Language Skills: Fluency in Vietnamese and Thai languages is a must.
7. Network Connections: Existing connections in Vietnam and Singapore.
8. Travel Commitment: Preparedness to travel to Vietnam is a requirement.
9. Work Schedule: A 6-days-a-week commitment from 6 pm to 3 am.

Advertising on MyCareersFuture.sg

Fair Hiring Practices

While it might seem unusual for such a job listing to appear on a Singapore government jobs portal, it is a mandatory step for employers to comply with fair hiring practices. MyCareersFuture is a free service dedicated to Singapore citizens and PRs, ensuring that locals are given priority in job placements.

Advertising Requirement

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) mandates employers to advertise jobs on MyCareersFuture.sg for at least 28 days before applying for Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass for a foreign candidate. This requirement aims to promote fair employment practices and enhance labor market transparency.

EP Application for Foreign Hires

Given the high salary range of this KTV performing artiste job, it falls under the EP category. Since Sep. 1, 2023, the EP qualifying salary for new applications and renewals has been fixed at S$5,000 for most sectors. The salary requirement increases with age, ranging from S$5,000 for those 23 and below to S$10,500 for individuals aged 45 and above.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this unique job opportunity presents an exciting chance for a talented individual to showcase their skills in the vibrant nightlife scene of Singapore. By advertising on MyCareersFuture.sg, the employer is not only following regulatory requirements but also providing an opportunity for locals to fill the position before broadening the search to international talents.

In August 2022, a shocking incident occurred when 23-year-old Chinese national Zhao Mingjian was found dead at the base of his condominium.

State Coroner Adam Nakhoda delivered his findings into Zhao’s death in court earlier today (12 January), ruling it as a misadventure, according to Channel NewsAsia.

Before the Fall: A Life in Transition

Zhao, a 33-year-old Biomedical Engineering graduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS), had recently embarked on his engineering career at Illumina Singapore when he fell from the 15th floor of his condominium in August 2022.

He landed on the grass patch at the foot of the building and suffered severe traumatic injuries before being conveyed to the hospital, but ultimately couldn’t be resuscitated.

The court revealed that there was no credible evidence to support the claims of third-party involvement after Zhao’s mother, refusing to believe that he had taken his own life, raised concerns about two men who were allegedly seen at the lift lobby of the condo on the day her son fell to his death, as well as highlighting the comments made by his friends during his funeral.

The notion of two strangers at the condo came from a neighbor’s statement, but the coroner deemed it as “merely idle gossip.”

Furthermore, comments made by Zhao’s friends at the funeral were considered irrelevant to the circumstances surrounding his fall.

Relationship Issues

The court heard about Zhao’s relationship issues, particularly involving a fellow NUS graduate named Ms QAX, with whom he got close to after they met during an NUS dance CCA in 2022.

She said that she believed Zhao was romantically interested in her but never acted on his feelings.

On 12 August, Zhao, QAX and a few friends went to drink alcohol at Clarke Quay, and Zhao’s mother advised him not to drink because he had a fever and drinking was bad for the liver.

The next morning, Zhao returned home and told him mother that QAX had allegedly shown him a middle finger, to which his mother then told him to stop seeing QAX if he was not comfortable with her, after which he then left all the dance CCA group chats that he was in; however, he later rejoined the group chats.

Zhao’s father , who was working in China at the time, added that he spoke with his son after his drinking session at Clarke Quay. The older Zhao said that his son told him that he believed QAX reciprocated his feelings for her, to which the father then told him that he needed to be better than the rest of his friends to win her over.

On 14 August, Zhao’s sister brought him out to watch a movie to cheer him up, because she knew that he was having problems pertaining to relationship issues.

She testified in court that their mother would pressure him to study harder, but he never mentioned that he felt controlled or restricted in his life.

The Day He Fell To His Death

On the day of the incident, 17 August, Zhao’s mother and sister saw him at home that morning, as he knocked on his sister’s bedroom door and told her that he had realised something about “people’s realisation and trust issues”.

CCTV footage captured Zhao leaving the condominium in gym attire around 1 pm. He fell from the balcony at approximately 3:45 pm, even though he was not caught on CCTV going back to the condominium.

However, this might have been attributed to a CCTV camera at the condo malfunctioning at the time.

At 3.45pm, a resident living opposite the condo heard someone screaming loudly and a loud thud, before alerting the police.

Police officers later noticed that the front door to Zhao’s unit was open but his gate was locked, before later entering the unit with Zhao’s sister.

They noticed that the sliding door to the unit’s balcony was open, as well as a pair of slippers; with one slipper near the balcony and another on a pot of flowers. However, no signs of struggle were found at the scene.

Coroner’s Findings

While there were searches related to harming oneself on Zhao’s phone, the coroner emphasized that these were not conclusive evidence of intent.

The court acknowledged an incident during an outing at Clarke Quay but found no indication that it led Zhao to take his own life. The coroner couldn’t conclusively establish whether Zhao jumped with the intention to end his life or fell accidentally, but there was no evidence suggesting foul play as the coroner expressed condolences to the Zhao family.

A 27-year-old man will be charged in court on 12 January 2024 for his suspected involvement in various offences connected to money laundering activities. 

In March 2021, he allegedly relinquished control of his bank account to another individual by handing over his Internet banking credentials and ATM card. His UOB bank account then received sums amounting in total to S$23,020 between April and June 2021, which were traced to the proceeds of suspected fraud perpetrated overseas.

In May 2021, he allegedly accessed another person’s bank account and withdrew at least S$8,980 from the account, which were traced to the proceeds of suspected fraud perpetrated overseas. After withdrawing the money, he handed them to other individuals in Singapore. 

The man will be charged in court with three counts of possessing property that may be reasonably suspected of being benefits from criminal conduct while failing to satisfactorily account for how he came by the property under Section 47AA(1) of the Corruption Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (“CDSA”) and one count of unauthorised access to computer material under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act (“CMA”) read with Section 10(1) of the CMA.

Anyone found guilty of possessing property that may be reasonably suspected of being benefits from criminal conduct if the person fails to account satisfactorily how the person came by the property under the CDSA faces imprisonment of up to three years, or fined up to S$150,000, or both. 

Anyone found guilty of abetting unauthorised access to computer material under the CMA faces imprisonment of up to two years, or fined up to S$5,000, or both.

The Police takes a serious stance against any person who may be involved in money laundering, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. The Police would like to remind members of the public that individuals will be held accountable if they allow their personal bank accounts to be used to receive and transfer monies found to be criminal proceeds.

If you receive or are asked to receive funds from unknown or dubious sources, please contact the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.

Five men and two women, aged between 19 and 52, will be charged in court on 11 January 2024 for their suspected involvement in money mule activities, which include cheating and facilitating unauthorised access to computer materials.

These individuals have allegedly sold or rented their bank accounts to criminal syndicates for as much as $3,000. They have purportedly deceived banks into opening bank accounts before handing over the ATM cards and iBanking PINs to the criminal syndicates. Two men, aged 27 and 44, have also allegedly sold their SingPass credentials to criminal syndicates to create new bank accounts.

The offence of cheating under Section 417 of the Penal Code 1871 carries an imprisonment term of up to three years and a fine. The offence of facilitating unauthorised access to computer material under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993 carries an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine or both.

The Police take a serious view of these offences and will not hesitate to take action against individuals who may be involved in scams, and perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law. To avoid being an accomplice to crime, members of the public should always reject seemingly attractive money-making opportunities promising pay-outs for the use of their Singpass account, bank accounts or allow their personal bank account to be used to receive and transfer money for others. The Police would like to remind members of the public that individuals will be held accountable if they are found to be linked to such crimes.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255 0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.