Spring Singapore warns firms on misleading websites featuring its schemes

Enterprise agency Spring Singapore Wednesday has warned of websites which give the impression that companies can apply for government grants through them.

For example, www.icvvoucher.com misleads small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by letting them believe that they can apply for the Innovation & Capability Voucher (ICV) through its website. A check of the website shows that it asks for information such as the company's name, registration number, and email displayed alongside information about the ICV.

Spring Singapore said that in recent weeks they have noted a number of such websites.

With another website, www.singaporegrants.com that also claims to offer the ICV, Spring Singapore noted that electronic direct mailers with its name as the email sender have been sent out to many SMEs. The website even featured Spring's logo and name. However, the logo and name has since been removed but the website has not been taken down.

In its statement, Spring advised SMEs to exercise caution when approached by any service provider that claims to be supported by the government agency.

It added that SMEs can verify the authenticity of such claims by calling 6898 1800 or by sending en email to enterpriseone@spring.gov.sg.

Spring said that investigations are ongoing, but added: "We will not hesitate to take the necessary action to protect our SMEs against entities that adopt such misleading marketing tactics."

teezhuo@sph.com.sg

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