Elderly victim loses $4.9 million to ‘government official’ scam involving local money mule

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Elderly victim loses $4.9 million to ‘government official’ scam involving local money mule​

In December 2024, two victims received unsolicited calls from a person claiming to be an official from a telecoms company like Singtel or Starhub. PHOTO: ST FILE

Carmen Sin
UPDATED JAN 22, 2025, 07:16 PM

SINGAPORE – Two elderly victims were fleeced of $1 million and $4.9 million, respectively, in December 2024 by scammers posing as overseas law enforcement officers.

In an advisory on Jan 22, the police urged vigilance against a riff on the government-official impersonation ruse, involving local residents roped in as cash mules.

In both cases in December, the victims received an unsolicited call from a fake telecommunications official, claiming to be from a company such as Singtel or Starhub.

The scammer told the victims that their mobile phone numbers had been used for criminal activities abroad, and then transferred the call to another scammer purporting to be an overseas police officer.

In one of the cases, the scammer sent the victim a “police identification card” using WhatsApp’s disappearing-message function. The crook also delivered forged documents to the victim’s house to “reinforce the deceit”, said the Singapore police.

The scammer duped the victims into withdrawing money from their bank accounts and handing them over to a stranger – the cash mule – for “safekeeping”.

In this scheme, when victims are unable to withdraw cash, someone else would be sent to meet them to help get the money, said the police.

Victims learn of the bluff only when the scammers become uncontactable, or when the victims approach the Singapore police.

Foreign police forces do not have powers to conduct investigations in Singapore or direct anyone in Singapore to assist in their investigations, said the police.

Singapore police officers identify themselves with a physical warrant card and never send images of these cards for identification, they added. Neither will the local police ask people to withdraw cash for “safekeeping” or for investigation.

Scam numbers hit record highs in the first half of 2024, with more than $385.6 million lost in 26,587 reported cases. The figures for the second half of 2024 have not yet been released.

On Jan 5, 2025, the police had warned of conmen, often using local phone numbers, passing themselves off as government officials from the Digital Development and Information Ministry or other government agencies like the Singapore Police Force, Monetary Authority of Singapore or Singapore Cyber Emergency Response Team.

That same day, an 18-year-old girl was arrested for allegedly helping scammers who posed as Chinese government officials cheat an elderly woman of $290,000.

The police advised the public to take precautionary measures against scams.

They can apply the ACT acronym, which outlines these steps to take: Add security features, check for signs of a scam, and tell the authorities and others about scams.

Those who have any information relating to such crimes or who are in doubt about a phone call or message can submit a report online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness or call 1800-255-0000.

For more information on scams, visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799.