During the circuit breaker period, there is an increase in scam-related activities reported. According to the Singapore Police Force, 151 cases were reported between 07 Apr 2020 to 7 May 2020. The number shows a huge spike comparing to the first 3 months of the year with an average of 20 cases per month.
This scam often involved victims clicking on a link and asked to provide credit card details or OTP. The victims will only realise that they are scammed after an unauthorized bank transaction was made.
COMMONLY USED COMPANIES
- Singpost
- StarHub
- Netflix
- Paypal
- Grab
COMMON TRICKS USED
- Asking the victim to pay money in order for their parcel to be sent to them
- Asking for credit card number in order to process overcharge refunds
- Provide links to free media subscriptions during COVID-19 period
The Singapore Police advised the members of the public:
- Do not click on a link sent from unknown emails and messages
- Always check with the official website if the promotion or event is real
- Do not disclose any personal or banking details and OTP to others.
Anyone who wishes to provide any information related to scam activities please call the police hotline at 1800 255 0000 or submit their information online at https://www.police.gov.sg/iwitness