SINGAPORE: The Singapore Police Power has issued an alert a couple of surge in authorities official impersonation scams involving an uncommon new tactic: scammers are calling victims from eight-digit numbers starting with the digit “3”, which is a format that doesn’t correspond to straightforward Singapore cellular or landline numbers and may itself function a right away crimson flag.
Since Might 2026, no less than 12 circumstances have been reported, with complete losses amounting to roughly S$274,000.
How the rip-off unfolds
The rip-off follows a now-familiar two-stage construction, however with the “3XXXXXXX” quantity because the preliminary level of contact.
Victims first obtain an unsolicited name from somebody claiming to signify a financial institution, monetary establishment, or telecommunications firm. The caller claims that suspicious transactions have been detected on the sufferer’s bank card, that an insurance coverage coverage beneath their identify is being misused, or that their identification has been used to join a brand new telephone contract.
The decision is then transferred to a second scammer impersonating a authorities official, usually from the Ministry of Legislation (MinLaw), the Financial Authority of Singapore (MAS), or the Singapore Police Power (SPF), who accuses the sufferer of involvement in legal actions resembling cash laundering.
To facilitate the supposed “investigation”, victims are instructed to switch cash or make money deposits by way of ATM right into a “protected account”. In some circumstances, scammers have additionally directed victims to withdraw money or declare valuables, then meet unknown people at hand them over beneath the guise of aiding the investigation. Victims usually solely uncover they’ve been scammed when the callers turn out to be uncontactable or once they test instantly with the related businesses.
What authorities businesses won’t ever do
The Police reiterated that Singapore Authorities officers, together with these from MinLaw, MAS, and SPF, won’t ever ask the general public to switch or hand over cash, luxurious watches, gold, or cryptocurrency; acquire loans from licensed moneylenders; disclose banking login particulars; set up apps from unofficial app shops; or switch a name to the Police or some other authorities official.
Members of the general public are additionally reminded by no means to share financial institution card PINs, by no means switch cash or valuables to unverified individuals, and by no means depart money or valuables at a bodily location for assortment.
A brand new crimson flag to know
Using eight-digit numbers starting with “3” could also be a particular function of this rip-off variant price remembering. Customary Singapore telephone numbers starting with “3” should not generally assigned to particular person callers, and receiving an unsolicited name from such a quantity ought to immediate fast suspicion, particularly if the caller claims to be from a authorities company or monetary establishment.
The Police advise the general public so as to add the ScamShield app and allow safety features together with Two-Issue Authentication, Multifactor Authentication for banking apps, and transaction limits for web banking. Examine the legitimacy of suspicious calls, numbers, and messages by way of the ScamShield app or at www.scamshield.gov.sg earlier than taking any motion. Inform household, associates, and the authorities about scams, and report any fraudulent transactions to your financial institution instantly.
If doubtful, name the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Members of the general public can even go to www.scamshield.gov.sg for extra info on scams.
Learn additionally: 130 victims recognized, S$2.9 million saved: Inside Singapore’s newest crypto rip-off crackdown
