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Singapore (SG)

Singapore is a city-state island nation at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula and one of the world's foremost global cities.

Capital: Singapore
Region: Asia
Language: English
Currency: SGD (S$)
Cost of living: Very expensive (index 88)
Emergency: 999
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Scam Warnings

Common scams targeting expats in Singapore.

Singapore has one of the world's lowest rates of violent crime, but scam and cybercrime remain a serious threat. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) reported S$913 million in scam losses for 2025 — down from S$1.1 billion in 2024, but still enormous. Government official impersonation, investment scams, job scams, and phishing are the highest-loss categories. Download the ScamShield app immediately on arrival: it is available free on both the iOS App Store and Google Play, built by Open Government Products in partnership with SPF and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC). Emergency police: 999. Non-emergency / scam reporting hotline: 1800-255-0000. ScamShield helpline: 1799.

Government Official Impersonation (SPF / MOM / ICA / CPF / IRAS)

critical

Callers or WhatsApp/Telegram contacts impersonate officers from the Singapore Police Force, Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), CPF Board, IRAS (tax authority), or even Interpol. They claim your employment pass, visa, tax account, FIN, or CPF contributions have an irregularity and that you must pay a fine immediately or face deportation or arrest. This is consistently one of the highest-loss scam categories in Singapore. Newly arrived expats unfamiliar with how Singapore government agencies actually communicate are a primary target.

How to spot it
  • - Singapore government agencies NEVER call unexpectedly to demand immediate payment over the phone
  • - Real MOM and ICA communicate via eService portals, registered mail, or scheduled appointments — not unsolicited cold calls
  • - High-pressure language: "you will be arrested in 2 hours", "this call is confidential, do not tell anyone"
  • - Caller asks you to stay on the line while you transfer money to "verify" you are not a money launderer
  • - Request to purchase gift cards (Apple, Google Play, Amazon) — real government agencies never accept gift card payment
  • - Caller ID shows an official-looking Singapore number — scammers spoof real government phone numbers
What to do: Hang up immediately. Do not transfer any money or share personal details. Call the agency directly on its official number (MOM: 6438-5122; ICA: 6391-6100; IRAS: 1800-356-8300; CPF: 1800-227-1188) using the number from the official .gov.sg website — not any number supplied by the caller. Report to SPF at 1800-255-0000 or via the ScamAlert portal (scamalert.sg).

Love Scam / Pig Butchering Investment Fraud

critical

Scammers cultivate romantic or close friendships via dating apps, social media, or a "wrong number" WhatsApp message, over weeks or months. Once emotional trust is established, they introduce a cryptocurrency or forex trading platform showing impressive fake profits. Victims are encouraged to deposit increasingly large sums. When withdrawal is attempted, fabricated "taxes", "maintenance fees", or "government clearance charges" are demanded — none of which release any real funds. Losses routinely reach six or seven figures. Investment scams were the highest-loss category in Singapore in 2025.

How to spot it
  • - A stranger contacts you via WhatsApp/Telegram/Instagram claiming it was a wrong number or to reconnect as an old acquaintance
  • - Relationship becomes emotionally close very quickly without any in-person meeting
  • - The person is always overseas (Hong Kong, Switzerland, UK) and avoids video calls or makes excuses
  • - They mention a trading platform or investment opportunity that "makes them so much money"
  • - Platform shows spectacular returns (30–100% in weeks) on an app you must download separately
  • - Every withdrawal attempt triggers another fee requirement with no actual funds ever released
What to do: Cease all contact immediately. Do not send any further money. If you have already transferred funds, call your bank's anti-scam hotline immediately for a possible recall: DBS 1800-339-6963, OCBC 1800-363-3333, UOB 1800-222-2121. Report to SPF at 1800-255-0000. NCPC (ncpc.org.sg) has victim support resources. Check any investment platform against the MAS Investor Alert List (mas.gov.sg/investor-alert-list).

Job Scam / Fake Online Work (Trafficking Risk)

critical

Victims are recruited via WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media with offers of easy online income — product reviewing, video liking, or "task completion" — with no experience required. The work requires depositing a "task package" or cryptocurrency to "unlock earnings". Fake profit dashboards encourage ever-larger deposits. In a more dangerous variant, fake overseas job advertisements lure victims to Myanmar, Cambodia, or Laos where they are held in criminal scam compounds and forced to run fraud operations on others. Job scams were among the top-five highest-loss scam types in Singapore in 2025.

How to spot it
  • - Unsolicited WhatsApp or Telegram message offering easy income with no interview or credentials required
  • - Any job requiring you to deposit money first to "unlock earnings" or "activate a task package"
  • - Unusually high promised earnings: "earn S$200–500 per day just completing simple tasks"
  • - Group chats with multiple "colleagues" showing fake high profits — these are planted scammer accounts
  • - Overseas job offer with very high salary for unskilled work, asking you to travel before signing any contract
  • - Recruiter requests passport copy and travel booking before any verified job contract is in hand
What to do: Do not deposit any money for any job. Leave the group chat and block the contact immediately. Report to SPF at 1800-255-0000. For overseas job offers: verify the company independently; the Ministry of Manpower website (mom.gov.sg) lists legitimate employment agencies. If you or someone else is being held against their will in a scam compound abroad, contact the Singapore Embassy in the relevant country and SPF immediately.

Rental Scam (Fake Landlord / Fake Listings)

critical

Fraudsters post attractive rental listings on PropertyGuru, 99.co, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree at below-market prices — often using photos stolen from legitimate listings. The "landlord" claims to be overseas and requests a deposit transfer to "hold the unit". The property may not exist, be already rented, or belong to someone else. This scam specifically targets newly arrived expats who are searching for accommodation remotely before arriving in Singapore.

How to spot it
  • - Price is significantly below market rate for the area and property type
  • - Landlord insists on receiving a deposit before any in-person or video viewing
  • - "I am overseas but my agent will arrange the keys after you pay" — a classic script
  • - No CEA-registered property agent involved; all communication only via WhatsApp
  • - Landlord name does not match HDB InfoWEB public register (for HDB flats)
  • - Reverse image search of listing photos reveals the same images used in other countries or listings
What to do: Always view the property in person before paying any deposit. Verify HDB flat ownership at HDB InfoWEB; for private properties ask to see the property tax bill showing the owner's name. Only use CEA-registered agents (verify at cea.gov.sg/find-an-agent). Report suspected fake listings to the platform and to SPF.

Phishing (DBS / OCBC / UOB / Singpass)

warning

SMS or emails appear to come from DBS, OCBC, UOB, POSB, or Singpass, warning of suspicious account activity or requesting urgent verification via a link. The link leads to a convincing fake website. If you log in, your credentials and OTP are captured in real time, enabling fraudsters to drain your account simultaneously. Phishing was among the top-five highest-loss scam categories in Singapore in 2025.

How to spot it
  • - An SMS from a number claiming to be your bank containing a clickable link
  • - Urgent language: "Your DBS account has been suspended — verify now to avoid closure"
  • - The link domain is subtly wrong (dbs-secure.com, singpass-verify.net)
  • - The page asks for your full card number, CVV, and OTP in the same session
  • - Singpass pages that look identical to official — always verify the URL is exactly singpass.gov.sg
What to do: Never click links in bank SMS messages — go directly to the bank's official app or type the URL manually. Banks will never ask for your full password or OTP via an SMS link. If you accidentally entered credentials, call your bank immediately to freeze your account. Report phishing to SingCERT at go.gov.sg/singcert and to SPF.

E-Commerce Scam (Carousell / Facebook Marketplace)

warning

Buyers pay for items on Carousell, Facebook Marketplace, or similar platforms and never receive goods. Sellers are defrauded by buyers sending fake PayNow confirmation screenshots. Counterfeit goods (luxury items, electronics) are also sold as authentic at discounts. E-commerce and online purchase scams consistently rank among the highest-volume scam categories in Singapore by number of cases.

How to spot it
  • - Price is dramatically below market (genuine iPhone 16 at S$200, branded luxury bag at a fraction of retail)
  • - Seller insists on bank transfer before any in-person meeting
  • - A buyer sends a PayNow "confirmation" screenshot that looks different from an authentic PayNow notification — check your actual bank balance
  • - New seller account with no transaction history or reviews
  • - Insists on courier delivery only, refuses to meet at a safe public location
What to do: Use Carousell's built-in escrow/payment features where available. Meet in person at a safe location — many police community bases have designated Safe Transaction Areas. Only confirm payment after physically receiving and checking the item. Report suspicious accounts within the Carousell or Facebook app. If scammed, report to SPF at 1800-255-0000.

Unlicensed Moneylender Harassment (Ah Long)

warning

Unlicensed moneylenders ("Ah Long") solicit via WhatsApp, SMS, and paper flyers promising fast cash with no credit checks. Borrowing from an unlicensed lender is a criminal offence in Singapore. Post-loan harassment includes vandalism, threats, and targeting of family members. Scammers also recruit victims as "runners" to collect payments or as "mule account" holders to receive loan proceeds — both are criminal offences even if you were unaware of the context.

How to spot it
  • - WhatsApp or SMS offering "fast cash", "approval in 10 minutes", no credit check required
  • - Requests your SingPass login or banking credentials to "verify" your account — this is mule account recruitment
  • - Interest quoted as daily or weekly percentages that obscure annual rates exceeding 100%
  • - Asks for your NRIC/FIN and bank account details before any formal written agreement
  • - Paper flyers stuck to lampposts, letterboxes, or HDB notice boards advertising just a phone number
What to do: Do not borrow from unlicensed lenders. Never share your SingPass or banking credentials with any third party for any reason. Legitimate licensed moneylenders are listed at moneylenders.registry.mlaw.gov.sg. Free debt advice: Credit Counselling Singapore at ccs.org.sg. Report Ah Long to SPF at 1800-255-0000 or the Registry of Moneylenders at 1800-2255-529.

Ticket Scam (Concerts / Sporting Events)

info

Singapore hosts major international concerts and events (Formula 1, large K-pop concerts, major sports). Scalpers and scammers sell fake or non-existent tickets via Carousell, Instagram, and Telegram. Buyers pay hundreds of dollars and receive worthless screenshots or nothing.

How to spot it
  • - Tickets sold above face value after official channels are sold out
  • - Seller sends a screenshot of a ticket before payment — screenshots can be faked or reused for multiple buyers
  • - Official platform (SISTIC, Ticketmaster) does not support a transfer of this ticket to a new buyer
  • - Seller insists on PayNow with no official transaction record
What to do: Buy only from official platforms: SISTIC (sistic.com.sg), Ticketmaster Singapore, or official venue box offices. Legitimate resale on StubHub or SISTIC resale provides buyer protection. If scammed, report to SPF — recovery of ticket scam funds is rare.

Reporting

Where to report: Singapore Police Force (SPF) — report all scams online at police.gov.sg or by phone at 1800-255-0000 (non-emergency). Emergency: 999. ScamShield helpline: 1799. For cybercrime: file an online police report at police.gov.sg/iwitness. Anti-Scam Command (ASCom) works directly with banks to freeze scam accounts — the sooner you report, the better the chance of a fund recall. National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC): ncpc.org.sg. ScamAlert portal: scamalert.sg. MAS Investor Alert List for unregulated investment schemes: mas.gov.sg/investor-alert-list.

Consumer helpline: Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE): case.org.sg — 6100-0315 — for disputes with registered businesses. ScamShield app (free, iOS App Store and Google Play) — download immediately on arrival to block scam calls and filter suspicious messages. MAS Financial Consumer Alert: mas.gov.sg/investor-alert-list for reporting unlicensed investment schemes.