SINGAPORE - A 20-year-old woman has been arrested by the police for suspected involvement in a case of impersonating a public servant.

At about 9.35pm last Wednesday (March 30), a member of the public reported to the police that she had received a call from a woman claiming to be a police investigation officer.

The caller informed her that a police report had been filed against her for failing to repay a monetary loan, and demanded that she return the loan amount.

Acting on the information received, officers from Jurong Division established the identity of the woman and arrested her on Tuesday (April 5) in Woodlands.

Investigations are ongoing, the police said in a news release on Wednesday (April 6).

The offence of impersonating a public servant carries a jail term of up to two years and/or a fine.

In their statement, the police urged the public to be vigilant and wary of those who may impersonate police officers to facilitate criminal acts.

If in doubt, they should request for the officer's warrant card to verify his identity before complying with any instructions, they said.

A genuine warrant card will have identifying features such as the police crest, the photo of the officer, his name and NRIC number. When the card is tilted at an angle, the holographic word "POLICE" will also appear below the officer's photograph.

If they are still unsure of the person's credibility as a police officer, they should call 999 for assistance.

More information on how to verify the authenticity of a police officer is available here.