G
General Veers
Guest
Singapore
Mar 23, 2010
Beware new phone scam
POLICE have alerted the public to a new variation of the 'lucky draw' phone scam, following several reported cases recently. The scammers have been sending SMS notifications to members of the public via an overseas phone line, claiming that they have won cash of 925,000 pounds (S$1.95 million) in a worldwide 'Phone Top-Up Win Promotion' and that the money is ready to be sent to them.
The recipients were then advised to liaise with the organiser's representative at email address: [email protected]. 'The scam is designed to dupe the victims into parting with their money,' said a police statement on Tuesday. After deceiving the victims into believing that they have won prize money, the scammers convinced the victims to pay a tax or an administration fee to secure the release of their winnings, which did not exist.
The scammers would then abscond after receiving the money or they would conjure up more excuses to induce further payments from their victims.
Police advised the public to be vigilant against these bogus lottery and lucky draw scams and adopt the following measures:
* Ignore notifications of a win in a lottery or lucky draw especially when you have not purchased any lottery ticket or participated in any lucky draw.
* Do not make any payment to claim prize money. Winning a lucky draw or lottery does not require you to make any advance payment.
* Do not respond to a SMS or phone call informing that you have won prize money.
* Be wary of get-rich-quick offers. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
Members of public can report such suspicious offers to the Police at a Neighbourhood Police Centre. They may also call the Police hotline at 1800 - 255 0000.
More details of other scam tactics and the relevant crime prevention advisories can be found at the Singapore Police Force website at www.spf.gov.sg or the Commercial Affairs Department website at www.cad.gov.sg.
Mar 23, 2010
Beware new phone scam
POLICE have alerted the public to a new variation of the 'lucky draw' phone scam, following several reported cases recently. The scammers have been sending SMS notifications to members of the public via an overseas phone line, claiming that they have won cash of 925,000 pounds (S$1.95 million) in a worldwide 'Phone Top-Up Win Promotion' and that the money is ready to be sent to them.
The recipients were then advised to liaise with the organiser's representative at email address: [email protected]. 'The scam is designed to dupe the victims into parting with their money,' said a police statement on Tuesday. After deceiving the victims into believing that they have won prize money, the scammers convinced the victims to pay a tax or an administration fee to secure the release of their winnings, which did not exist.
The scammers would then abscond after receiving the money or they would conjure up more excuses to induce further payments from their victims.
Police advised the public to be vigilant against these bogus lottery and lucky draw scams and adopt the following measures:
* Ignore notifications of a win in a lottery or lucky draw especially when you have not purchased any lottery ticket or participated in any lucky draw.
* Do not make any payment to claim prize money. Winning a lucky draw or lottery does not require you to make any advance payment.
* Do not respond to a SMS or phone call informing that you have won prize money.
* Be wary of get-rich-quick offers. If an offer sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam.
Members of public can report such suspicious offers to the Police at a Neighbourhood Police Centre. They may also call the Police hotline at 1800 - 255 0000.
More details of other scam tactics and the relevant crime prevention advisories can be found at the Singapore Police Force website at www.spf.gov.sg or the Commercial Affairs Department website at www.cad.gov.sg.
