Latest news with #ScamShield
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Business
- Yahoo
$48k lost to food ad scams on social media; Certis scraps sick leave tracking: Singapore live news
Singapore police have reported 77 cases of food advertisement scams since mid-June, with victims losing at least $48,000. Fraudsters used fake durian and snack deals on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram to lure users into phishing sites, according to the Straits Times. Victims entered banking details and OTPs, leading to unauthorised charges and compromised YouTrip wallets. The scams exploit seasonal demand and social media reach, prompting police to urge caution and promote resources like ScamShield. As e-commerce fraud rises, Singaporeans are advised to verify sellers and avoid clicking suspicious links. Certis, one of Singapore's leading security firms, has officially scrapped its controversial policy requiring frontline officers on medical leave to share their live location if found away from home. The reversal follows union-led negotiations and public criticism over privacy concerns, reported by the Straits Times. Introduced in April 2025, the policy was intended to curb sick leave abuse but sparked backlash for being overly intrusive. Certis clarified that terminations only occurred after fair investigations and pledged to improve internal communications. Monthly engagement sessions with staff will now be held to promote transparency and rebuild trust. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. Singapore security firm Certis has officially dropped its real-time location tracking policy for frontline officers on medical leave, following discussions with the Union of Security Employees (USE). The move comes after public backlash and internal concerns over privacy and trust, according to the Straits Times. Implemented in April 2025, the policy required officers to share live location data via WhatsApp or video if they weren't found at home during surprise visits. Certis claimed the measure was aimed at curbing sick leave abuse, not punishing staff. USE pushed back, arguing that medical leave should be used for rest, not surveillance. The union emphasised that while abuse shouldn't be condoned, intrusive tracking undermines morale and workplace culture. Certis clarified that terminations only occurred after fair investigations, citing rare cases of officers traveling overseas while on medical leave. The company denied firing staff solely for being absent during home checks. As part of the resolution, Certis and USE will co-host monthly engagement sessions, aiming to improve communication and rebuild trust with its 12,000-strong workforce. A wave of food advertisement scams has hit Singapore, with 77 victims losing $48,000 since mid-June. The scams are spreading via TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. According to the Straits Times, fraudsters lure users with heavily discounted food offers, especially durians, then redirect them to phishing sites. Victims unknowingly hand over sensitive banking data, leading to unauthorised charges and compromised accounts. YouTrip users were especially vulnerable, with scammers triggering login requests and hijacking wallets. Some victims saw foreign currency transactions they never authorised. Police say the scams reflect a growing trend, where seasonal cravings and social media combine to create fertile ground for fraud. They advise checking seller legitimacy and avoiding direct bank transfers. If the deal smells fishy, it's probably rotten. Singapore security firm Certis has officially dropped its real-time location tracking policy for frontline officers on medical leave, following discussions with the Union of Security Employees (USE). The move comes after public backlash and internal concerns over privacy and trust, according to the Straits Times. Implemented in April 2025, the policy required officers to share live location data via WhatsApp or video if they weren't found at home during surprise visits. Certis claimed the measure was aimed at curbing sick leave abuse, not punishing staff. USE pushed back, arguing that medical leave should be used for rest, not surveillance. The union emphasised that while abuse shouldn't be condoned, intrusive tracking undermines morale and workplace culture. Certis clarified that terminations only occurred after fair investigations, citing rare cases of officers traveling overseas while on medical leave. The company denied firing staff solely for being absent during home checks. As part of the resolution, Certis and USE will co-host monthly engagement sessions, aiming to improve communication and rebuild trust with its 12,000-strong workforce. A wave of food advertisement scams has hit Singapore, with 77 victims losing $48,000 since mid-June. The scams are spreading via TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. According to the Straits Times, fraudsters lure users with heavily discounted food offers, especially durians, then redirect them to phishing sites. Victims unknowingly hand over sensitive banking data, leading to unauthorised charges and compromised accounts. YouTrip users were especially vulnerable, with scammers triggering login requests and hijacking wallets. Some victims saw foreign currency transactions they never authorised. Police say the scams reflect a growing trend, where seasonal cravings and social media combine to create fertile ground for fraud. They advise checking seller legitimacy and avoiding direct bank transfers. If the deal smells fishy, it's probably rotten.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
$48k lost to food ad scams on social media: Singapore live news
Singapore police have reported 77 cases of food advertisement scams since mid-June, with victims losing at least $48,000. Fraudsters used fake durian and snack deals on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram to lure users into phishing sites, according to the Straits Times. Victims entered banking details and OTPs, leading to unauthorised charges and compromised YouTrip wallets. The scams exploit seasonal demand and social media reach, prompting police to urge caution and promote resources like ScamShield. As e-commerce fraud rises, Singaporeans are advised to verify sellers and avoid clicking suspicious links. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. A wave of food advertisement scams has hit Singapore, with 77 victims losing $48,000 since mid-June. The scams are spreading via TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. According to the Straits Times, fraudsters lure users with heavily discounted food offers, especially durians, then redirect them to phishing sites. Victims unknowingly hand over sensitive banking data, leading to unauthorised charges and compromised accounts. YouTrip users were especially vulnerable, with scammers triggering login requests and hijacking wallets. Some victims saw foreign currency transactions they never authorised. Police say the scams reflect a growing trend, where seasonal cravings and social media combine to create fertile ground for fraud. They advise checking seller legitimacy and avoiding direct bank transfers. If the deal smells fishy, it's probably rotten. A wave of food advertisement scams has hit Singapore, with 77 victims losing $48,000 since mid-June. The scams are spreading via TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. According to the Straits Times, fraudsters lure users with heavily discounted food offers, especially durians, then redirect them to phishing sites. Victims unknowingly hand over sensitive banking data, leading to unauthorised charges and compromised accounts. YouTrip users were especially vulnerable, with scammers triggering login requests and hijacking wallets. Some victims saw foreign currency transactions they never authorised. Police say the scams reflect a growing trend, where seasonal cravings and social media combine to create fertile ground for fraud. They advise checking seller legitimacy and avoiding direct bank transfers. If the deal smells fishy, it's probably rotten.
New Paper
4 days ago
- New Paper
At least 46 victims duped of $3 million in scam involving fake MAS officers and WhatsApp screen sharing
Scammers posing as Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) officers have stolen at least $3 million from 46 or more victims since June, by exploiting WhatsApp's screen sharing function to spy on their banking details. In this type of scam, victims would receive calls on local numbers, with the callers claiming to be from firms such as NTUC Income, NTUC Union or Unionpay, the police said on June 26. The scammers would claim there were issues with the insurance plans that the victims had purchased. When victims denied purchasing such policies, the scammers would then redirect them to an accomplice, posing as an officer from MAS. The second scammer would then claim that the victims' bank accounts were implicated in money laundering, before instructing them to transfer their money to a separate account used by the scammers for "safekeeping". These fraudsters would guide the victims through the process of making internet banking transfers by using WhatsApp's screen sharing function, which would expose the victims' bank accounts and internet banking details. The ruse would only be discovered when the scammers became uncontactable, or when they asked victims to transfer more money, the police added. Stressing that individuals should never share their devices' screen with strangers or anyone whose identity has not been verified, the police said that doing so could result in unauthorised transactions and financial loss. They added that government officials will never ask individuals to transfer money, disclose banking log-in details, install apps from unofficial sources, or transfer calls to the police through the phone. As a precaution, the police reiterated advice to download the ScamShield app to block calls and filter SMSes, as well as to alert banks immediately if any suspicious activity has occurred, among other steps. Scams remain a rampant problem in Singapore, with victims suffering losses that soared to $1.1 billion in 2024, which is about 70 per cent higher than the amount lost in 2023. Since 2019, victims here have lost more than $3.4 billion to scams, with the highest number of scam reports made in 2024, numbering at 51,501.
Online Citizen
5 days ago
- Online Citizen
Scammers impersonating MAS officers steal over S$3 million via WhatsApp screen sharing scam
Scammers masquerading as Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) officers have stolen over S$3 million from at least 46 victims since June 2025. The fraud was executed by exploiting WhatsApp's screen sharing function, according to a police statement on 26 June. The scam begins with victims receiving calls from local numbers. The callers falsely claim to be representatives from organisations such as NTUC Income, NTUC Union, or UnionPay, and allege problems with insurance policies supposedly purchased by the victims. When the victims deny buying such policies, they are redirected to a second caller. This individual poses as an MAS officer and falsely claims the victim's bank account is linked to money laundering activities. Victims are then instructed to transfer their money to a 'safe' account—controlled by the scammers—under the pretext of securing their funds during investigations. To facilitate this, the scammers convince victims to share their phone screens via WhatsApp. This grants the fraudsters full visibility of the victims' banking information, enabling them to guide the victims through unauthorised transfers. The deception is often uncovered only after the scammers become unreachable or demand further transfers. The police warned that individuals should never share their device screens with unknown or unverified parties. Doing so could lead to unauthorised access to sensitive banking data and substantial financial loss. Authorities also reminded the public that no government official will ever request banking credentials, instruct transfers of funds, or ask individuals to install unofficial applications. Furthermore, calls claiming to transfer a person to the police or other agencies should be treated with caution, as genuine officials do not initiate such protocols. To protect against such scams, the police advise installing the ScamShield app, which helps to block fraudulent calls and filter suspicious messages. They also recommend contacting banks immediately upon detecting any unusual banking activity. The Singapore Police Force reiterated the importance of public awareness and digital security, particularly as scams continue to escalate. In 2024 alone, scam victims in Singapore lost a total of S$1.1 billion, marking a 70 per cent increase compared to the S$646 million lost in 2023. Since 2019, total scam-related losses have surpassed S$3.4 billion. Additionally, 2024 recorded the highest number of scam reports to date, with 51,501 cases logged. Police investigations into the latest string of MAS impersonation scams are ongoing. The public is encouraged to report suspicious calls or messages immediately and to refrain from following instructions from unknown callers. The authorities are also working with telecommunications companies and digital platforms to clamp down on such fraud networks and prevent future incidents.
AsiaOne
5 days ago
- AsiaOne
3 men charged for alleged involvement in Pokemon card scams; believed to have cheated victims out of $57k, Singapore News
Three men aged between 21 and 28 will be charged in court on Saturday (June 28) for their suspected involvement in money laundering and unauthorised access to computer material, in a case that involved the selling of Pokemon trading cards. In a press release on Saturday (June 28), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said: "Between May and June 2025, the police received several reports from victims who were cheated by an online seller who was selling Pokemon trading cards on Carousell. After the victims made payment via bank transfers, they did not receive the said trading cards. "When questioned, the seller claimed he was in a business venture with another supplier who did not honour the transactions upon receiving payments." Officers from the Commercial Affairs Department conducted follow-up investigations and discovered the identities of the supplier and two accomplices, and arrested them on June 26 and 27, SPF said. The police believe the men have been involved in more than 50 similar scams, cheating victims out of at least $57,000. One man, 26, will be charged under Section 55A(1)(a)(i) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992 "with the offence of assisting another to retain benefits from criminal conduct". It is punishable by a prison term of up to three years and/or a fine not exceeding $50,000. The two others, aged 21 and 28, will be charged with "accessing without authority bank accounts belonging to separate individual to withdraw payments" under Section 3(1) of the Computer Misuse Act 1993. They can be imprisoned for up to two years and/or pay a fine of up to $5,000. Between January and February 2025, at least 50 people had fallen victim to Pokemon card scams and had been cheated out of over $163,000. Scammers would engage potential victims on Facebook or Carousell, before convincing them to move their conversations to WhatsApp or Telegram, SPF said on Feb 6. The victims would then make payments via PayNow or bank transfers, and only realise they were scammed after the cards would fail to arrive or the sellers would cease communications with them. In their recent statement, the SPF advised the public to only communicate with sellers within the apps and to conduct transactions in person so they can inspect products before making payment. "Be wary of e-commerce scam red flags such as large discounts for faster transactions. Do not transfer money to anyone you do not know. Never disclose your personal information, internet banking or One-Time passwords to anyone," the SPF said. They also encourage members of the public to download the ScamShield app on their phones to block and filter SMSes, and set up security features on payment methods. The public can also use official channels including the ScamShield app, their 24-hour hotline at 1799 and their website at to check for signs of scams, or discuss with a trusted person. SPF also recommends reporting suspicious listings or user profiles to Carousell or Facebook through their in-app reporting functions. If someone suspects that they have been scammed, they should call their banks to report and block fraudulent transactions as well as lodge a police report. [[nid:514707]] drimac@
