ICA warns of fake website that phishes for visa application and passport numbers

Authorities warned the public about a fake Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website on April 28, 2016. SCREENGRAB: INTERNET

SINGAPORE -The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has warned of a fraudulent website that is phishing for visitors' personal information.

The site - immisg-mom.in - leads unwitting victims to key in their visa application numbers and passport numbers.

"ICA would like to advise members of the public to exercise caution so that you do not unwittingly fall prey to such fake websites," it said in a statement on Thursday (April 28).

Access to the official ICA website remains unaffected and no data has been compromised, ICA said.

Members of the public should use only the official ICA website at www.ica.gov.sg for all informational and transactional needs concerning immigration matters.

A police report has been made against the phishing website.

ICA said: "We will work to bring down the website and will continue to monitor them."

This is not the first fake ICA website to come to light this month. On April 8, another fake website (ica-sg.com) was reported.

In December last year, three fake ICA websites were found by the authorities.

There has been a growing number of fake government websites. At least five have been reported this year.

Most are phishing scams, which try to trick users into giving their personal or financial information through the use of fake websites or e-mail masquerading as official sources.

Other agencies that have issued advisories on such scams include the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Health and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore.

The target of many of these sites are mainly foreigners who may not be familiar with Singapore official websites, the Infocomm Development Authority said earlier this month.

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