POLICE ADVISORY ON PERSISTENT SCAM VARIANT INVOLVING FAKE FRIENDS

The Police would like to remind members of the public about a persistent trend observed in relation to the fake friend scam variant, which involves scammers contacting victims through text messages (e.g. via WhatsApp) or phone/WhatsApp calls, pretending to be someone they know, and thereafter asking for financial assistance. Since January 2023, at least 4,800 victims have fallen prey, with total losses amounting to at least $15.7million.  

In these cases, victims would receive phone/WhatsApp calls from unknown numbers (with or without the “+65” prefix). In some cases, victims would receive text messages instead of phone/WhatsApp calls. The scammer would claim to be a friend or acquaintance and asked the victims to guess his or her real identity. In response, the victims would then provide the name of a friend whom they believed the caller could be. The scammer would then assume the identity of the said friend and ask the victims to update their contact details.

The scammer would subsequently contact the victims to ask for a loan and would claim that he or she is unable to perform a banking transaction or is experiencing financial difficulties. Victims would then be provided with a local bank account to transfer the money. Victims would only discover that they had been scammed after contacting their actual friends or acquaintances whom the scammers had impersonated, or when their loan was not returned as promised. 

The Police would like to advise members of the public to adopt the following precautionary measures:

1. ADD – ScamShield App and set security features (e.g., enable two-factor (2FA) or multifactor authentication for banks, social media, Singpass accounts; set transaction limits on internet banking transactions, including PayNow).
   
2. 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). Verify whether the request is legitimate by checking with your family, friends and acquaintances through alternative means such as physical meet-ups, video calls or email other than using the new contact details on your phone.
   
3. TELL – authorities, family, and friends about scams. Beware of unusual requests from someone purporting to be someone you know via text messages or phone/WhatsApp calls. Report the number to WhatsApp to initiate in-app blocking.

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!

Examples – Conversation between a scammer and victim on WhatsApp

A 23-year-old man was arrested by the Singapore Police Force on 29 August for possession of offensive weapons, namely a karambit knife and a knuckle duster.

The police were conducting a check on him on 29 August at about 8.30pm along Victoria Street at the time, and the man tried to flee but was immediately detained by the officers.

He was then found to be in possession of the weapons, as well as suspected illegal drugs.

THe man was subsequently charged in court yesterday (31 August) with possession of an offensive and scheduled weapon punishable under Section 6(1) and Section 7 (1) under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 respectively.

As for his alleged drug offences, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) are currently conducting investigations into the matter.

S’pore Police Force’s Statement

MAN TO BE CHARGED FOR POSSESSION OF OFFENSIVE AND SCHEDULED WEAPONS

Police have arrested a 23-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of possession of offensive and scheduled weapons in a public place.

On 29 August 2023 at about 8.30 pm, police officers conducted a check on a man along Victoria Street. While being checked, the man attempted to flee from the officers but was immediately detained. The man was subsequently found to be in possession of a karambit knife and a knuckle duster. He was also found in possession of substances believed to be controlled drugs.

The man will be charged in court on 31 August 2023, with possession of an offensive and scheduled weapon punishable under Section 6(1) and Section 7 (1) under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 respectively. The offences of carrying an offensive and/or scheduled weapon in a public place otherwise than for a lawful purpose carries an imprisonment term of up to five years and at least six strokes of cane.

The Central Narcotics Bureau is investigating into the drug-related offences. Investigations are on-going.

The Police have zero tolerance towards such brazen acts and will not hesitate to act against those who blatantly disregard the law.

Annex

Weapons Seized as Case Exhibits ▼

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 August 2023 @ 8:20 PM

A 19-year-old man has been arrested by the police for loanshark harassment, he had allegedly locked a debtor’s unit at Bedok North Avenue 4 and left behind a note that was pasted at the waterpipe beside the unit.

The police arrested him on 30 August and seized 4 bicycle locks, 2 debtor’s notes, 1 red marker and 1 mobile phone as case exhibits.

S’pore Police Force’s statement

MAN ARRESTED FOR LOANSHARK HARASSMENT

The Police have arrested a 19-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a case of loanshark harassment.

On 26 August 2023, the Police were alerted to a case of loanshark harassment along Bedok North Avenue 4, where the gate of a residential unit was secured with a bicycle lock and a debtor’s note was pasted at the waterpipe beside the unit. Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from Police cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on 30 August 2023. Four bicycle locks, two debtor’s notes, one red marker and one mobile phone were seized as case exhibits.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man was allegedly involved in other similar cases of loanshark harassments.

The man will be charged in court on 31 August 2023 under the Moneylenders Act 2008. For first-time offenders, the offence of loanshark harassment carries a fine between $5,000 and $50,000, with imprisonment of up to five years, and caning of up to six strokes.

The Police have zero tolerance against loanshark harassment activities. Those who deliberately vandalise properties, cause annoyance or disruption to public safety, peace and security, will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.

Members of the public are advised to stay away from loansharks and not to work with or assist them in any way. The public can call the Police at ‘999’ or the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800-924-5664 if they suspect or know of anyone who could be involved in loansharking activities.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 August 2023 @ 10:55 PM

46-year-old Fong Poh Kuan, a serial stalker and repeat offender, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after he had filmed students near school as well as conducted a fake survey to get the information of more than 500 schoolgirls in 1 day, according to The Straits Times.

He also secretly filmed the school girls outside their schools by wearing a pair of glasses with pinhole video recording cameras embedded in them, also known as spy-glasses.

Serial stalker

On January 8, 2020, while Anglo-Chinese Junior College hosted an open house for potential students, Fong operated in a public area nearby, equipped with blank forms. He approached students, claiming that the forms were for an education survey.

Using the data collected under the guise of a survey, Fong embarked on a campaign of stalking. Among his victims was a 16-year-old girl who later became paranoid and felt harassed after realizing Fong’s true intentions.

Fong’s stalking extended to multiple students from various institutions, including Temasek Junior College, Tampines Meridian Junior College, Dunman High School, and Nanyang Technological University.

Fong’s tactics escalated when he began capturing video footage of students. He concealed his actions by placing his phone in his breast pocket or holding it at chest height, capturing unsuspecting students in uniform. These intrusive images were then hidden in a password-encrypted app disguised as a calculator, named Vault.

Fong’s behavior took an even more sinister turn as he continued his harassment. Standing near bus stops or within the vicinity of educational institutions, he filmed students with his hidden camera.

His actions were perceived as threatening, and he even prompted one institution, Tampines Meridian Junior College, to issue warnings to students and parents, advocating for increased caution and arranging for students to leave the school in pairs.

Fong’s methods extended to the use of fake surveys, where he would falsely represent himself as a member of an educational institution or government body. These surveys provided him with opportunities to film students using hidden cameras, and he would then use the collected information to stalk and harass them through text messages and surveillance.

Fong’s actions finally came to an end when he approached a victim, a 19-year-old girl from Temasek Junior College, and began soliciting personal information. Despite using tactics to imply authority from institutions like Nanyang Technological University, the victim grew suspicious.

Fong’s history of harassment and stalking culminated in his arrest and prosecution. A former student of Nanyang Technological University himself, Fong’s familiarity with the institution’s system allowed him to access victim information.

After a previous conviction for similar offenses, Fong received a prison sentence, underscoring the seriousness of his actions.

S’pore Police Force’s statement

MAN CONVICTED AND JAILED FOR MULTIPLE OFFENCES OF ILLEGALLY OBTAINING PERSONAL INFORMATION, UNLAWFUL STALKING AND HARASSMENT

On 30 August 2023, Fong Poh Kuen (“Fong”), a 46-year-old man, was convicted and sentenced to  eighteen months’ imprisonment for the following offences:

1. three counts of illegally obtaining personal information under Section 416A of the Penal Code (Cap 224, 2008 Rev Ed);
   
2. one count of public nuisance under Section 268 of the Penal Code 1871 punishable under Section 290(b) of the Penal Code 1871;
   
3. three counts of causing harassment, alarm or distress under Section 4(2) of the Protection from Harassment Act, Revised Edition 2015, punishable under Section 8(1)(b) of the Act; &
   
4. six counts of unlawful stalking under Section 7(1) of the Protection from Harassment Act, Revised Edition 2015, punishable under Section 8(1)(e) of the Act.

Fong consented to having eight other charges, including five counts of causing harassment, alarm or distress under Section 4(2) of the Protection from Harassment Act, Revised Edition 2015, and three counts of unlawful stalking under Section 7(1) of the Protection from Harassment Act, Revised Edition 2015, to be taken into consideration for sentencing.

Fong was previously convicted of similar offences in 2019.Between 2020 and 2022, the Police received multiple reports informing that Fong had either recorded videos of students in the vicinity of educational institutions using his mobile phone or spectacles containing pinhole cameras, or had conducted surveys on female students under false pretenses by claiming that he was a representative of educational institutions or government agencies. Investigations further revealed that Fong had stalked multiple young female students who had provided their personal information in these surveys. 

Fong was arrested and remanded on 31 August 2022. On 29 August 2023, Fong pleaded guilty to the thirteen charges in [1] above. He consented for the eight other charges in [2] to be taken into consideration for the purposes of sentencing. 

The offence of illegally obtaining personal information under Section 416A of the Penal Code 1871, is punishable with an imprisonment term of up to three years, a fine up to $10,000, or both. The offence of public nuisance under Section 290 of the Penal Code 1871, carries a fine of up to $2,000, an imprisonment term of up to three months, or both. Those found guilty of causing harassment, alarm or distress under Section 4(2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000. Repeat offenders under Section 8(1)(b) of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 shall be liable on conviction to an imprisonment term not exceeding 6 months, a fine up to $10,000, or both. The offence of unlawful stalking under Section 7(1) of the Protection of Harassment Act 2014 is punishable with an imprisonment term not exceeding 12 months, or a fine up to $5,000, or both. Repeat offenders under Section 8(1)(e) of the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 shall be liable on conviction to an imprisonment term of up to two years, a fine up to $10,000, or both.

The Police take a stern view against any illegal behaviour targeting minors and/or students, and will take firm action against perpetrators of such offences.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
31 August 2023 @ 10:00 AM