The Police published a media release, to alert the public on a new kind of scam which involves scanning of QR codes, the victims will be offered to do a short survey which requires them to login with their singpass. But the singpass accounts will be granted for fraudulent use.
How it works:
Scammers would build bogus surveys and attract participants through channels such as internet forums and e-commerce sites in these circumstances. The surveys were ostensibly performed on behalf of respectable Singapore firms or organizations. Scammers frequently engage with victims over WhatsApp and promise them monetary prizes for taking part in surveys.
After completing the surveys, the fraudsters would ask the victims to scan a Singpass QR code with their Singpass app, saying that it was part of the verification procedure to obtain their survey findings for monetary rewards payment. However, the Singpass QR code given by the scammers was a snapshot obtained from a real website, and by scanning the QR code and authorizing the transaction without additional checks, victims unknowingly gave the scammers access to their personal information.
Sign up for phone lines and register businesses with victim’s Singpass
Scammers would then abuse the victim’s access by registering businesses, subscribing to new cellphone lines, or opening new bank accounts in their name. Victims would only realize anything was wrong when their telecoms service provider or bank alerted them of these activities, or when they received notices in their Singpass Inbox that their personal information had been accessed.