SINGAPORE: This individual was told over the phone by someone claiming to be a court official that he was involved in illegal cash laundering activities, and while John (not their real name) knew he had done nothing wrong, fear emerge.
After a number of phone calls with the “court official” as well as “police officers” and even a good “auditor” claiming to be from the Monetary Expert of Singapore, the particular 58-year-old, who functions in financial services, grew so worried he gave up personal information, including his bank account information.
ALSO READ: SG woman saved from losing S$500, 1000 after digital-asset firm flags scam in order to cops
Using his banking credentials, the scammers transferred S$93, 1000 (RM299, 043) from his account, plus it would have been much more if not for a member of the DBS anti-scam team, who flagged the initial transaction because suspicious.
Mark, who is married along with two children in their 20s, had fallen victim to a federal government official impersonation scam.
FURTHERMORE READ: 75-year-old in SG lost S$1mil in China authorities impersonation scam
In response to The Straits Times ’ queries, the police said 996 government established impersonation scam cases were reported within the first half of this season. Victims of such scams were scammed of S$25. 2mil (RM81. 03mil).
Recalling the event in June, Sara said last Friday (Aug 26): “The con artists had Singaporean highlights. It also seemed like they were authority figures I possibly could trust. It was many very convincing. ”
He added: “The ‘court official’ first accused me of money laundering actions that were carried out via a company which I set up. When I told your pet I had no understanding of such activities, he transferred me to a ‘police officer’ who mentioned he needed the information. ”
ALSO READ: Student in S’pore loses more than S$300K to con artists impersonating officials through China
Hoping to the resolve the matter quickly, Mark, who has lived within Singapore for sixteen years, took a photo of his employment pass card plus sent it towards the scammer.
“He then sent me a very official-looking court document for the offences I’d been arrested of and said due the significance of the offences, the police would be at my home that evening to arrest me, ” John said.
“I was extremely fearful. There was also this time pressure. If I didn’t get our name cleared by then, I was going to invest an evening in a jail cell. ”
ALSO EXAMINE: Hong Kong housewife swindled out of HK$65mil by phone scammers accusing her associated with spreading fake information
Bob said the con artists used the tactic associated with confusion, transferring your pet to different authority numbers, including a courtroom official, a younger police officer, a mature police inspector as well as a financial auditor whom claimed to be from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
This individual eventually handed over his DBS banking credentials to the scammers intended for inspection.
“I was told not to speak to anyone concerning this – not the employer, not my spouse. Otherwise it would jeopardise the legitimacy of the financial review. Someone said not to talk to the authorities or any banks concerning this as they suspected the criminals involved in the money laundering activities had been employees of the bank.
“At that point I was even thinking if I was being adopted or watched, therefore i took their directions very seriously, ” said John.
The scammers utilized his banking credentials to transfer S$93, 000 (RM299, 043) from his account and attempted another transfer of S$97, 800 (RM314, 489).
Elaine Suntan, a member of the DBS anti-scam team, stated the bank’s fraud surveillance systems flagged the second transaction because suspicious.
“The biggest red flag is that John wasn’t conscious of the S$93, 500 (RM299, 043) transfer when I spoke in order to him over the telephone to verify the transaction, ” Bronze said.
“In fact, he claimed that he did not entry his DBS Web banking that time, let alone add a brand new payee or make a funds transfer. ”
Believing Mark had been scammed, Bronze informed the Anti-Scam Centre.
Associate Superintendent of Police (ASP) Simon Lam, a senior investigation officer at the Anti-Scam Centre, said subsequent transfers of close to S$1mil (RM3. 21mil) were in the process to be transferred from John’s account at the time.
He contacted David and took two hours to convince him that he had been scammed.
“(We finally) achieved the breakthrough with the use of a news article which elaborated on the modus operandi of a federal government official impersonation rip-off, which was similar to what the victim experienced, ” said ASP Lam.
Subsequent transfer attempts by the scammers were halted as well as the first transfer of S$93, 000 (RM299, 043) was also recovered.
ASP Lam added: “This is really a testament of the strong collaborative relationship among DBS and the Anti-Scam Centre in our abilities to respond swiftly to scam incidents plus underscores our commitment to safeguard the community. ”
John is pleased that the money he saved for pension remains intact.
“I had noticed the advisories upon scams. Despite that, the speed at which the activities unfolded after the first call got me personally sucked in. I didn’t stop to think… It was the ultimate act of stupidity for me to fall for this, ” he said. – The Straits Occasions (Singapore)/Asia News System