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Friday, July 4, 2025
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Police Warn Public About Scams Involving Fake Officials & Gold Bar Collection

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has issued a fresh advisory warning the public about a spike in scams involving fraudsters impersonating government officials and requesting victims to physically hand over money or gold bars. Since June 2025, over 80 cases have been reported, with victims losing at least S$6.7 million to these sophisticated scams.

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According to the police, scammers initiate contact through unsolicited calls, posing as representatives from well-known banks like DBS or Maybank, financial institutions such as NTUC or UnionPay, or even official government agencies, including the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). These scammers typically claim victims have suspicious transactions or insurance issues under their names, or that their phone numbers are linked to criminal activities.

When victims deny any wrongdoing, they are transferred to another scammer impersonating high-ranking officials from agencies such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the Singapore Police Force, or even foreign authorities like “China Police.” Victims are then accused of involvement in serious crimes such as money laundering, with scammers demanding they withdraw large sums or buy gold bars for supposed “investigations.”

Scammers Demand Physical Handover of Cash & Valuables

In several reported cases, victims were instructed to meet strangers to hand over their money, jewellery, or gold bars. Others were told to leave valuables at discreet locations for collection by unknown individuals. Victims only realised they had been scammed when the scammers became unreachable or after they contacted the police for verification.

The SPF stressed that genuine government officials will never request money transfers, personal banking information, or the installation of suspicious mobile apps over the phone. They will also never instruct members of the public to meet strangers or deposit valuables for “investigation purposes.”

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How to Protect Yourself Against Government Official Impersonation Scams

Members of the public are urged to adopt the “ACT” precautionary measures to protect themselves:

ADD – Install the ScamShield app to block scam calls and filter suspicious SMS messages. Set transaction limits suitable for daily needs, lower notification thresholds, and use your bank’s Money Lock feature to secure a portion of your savings.

CHECK – Always check for scam indicators using official sources, such as the ScamShield app, and call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 for assistance.

TELL – Inform family, friends, and the authorities if you encounter or suspect scams. Report fraudulent transactions to your bank immediately and make a police report.

For more information on scams, visit www.scamshield.gov.sg. Combating scams requires community vigilance — let’s ACT Against Scams together to keep Singapore safe.

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