At least $379k lost since May to scammers impersonating MOM officers, govt officials

SINGAPORE – At least $379,000 has been lost since May to scammers impersonating officers from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and, in some cases, other government officials.

The police said on June 3 that the losses were linked to at least six cases. The scam would see victims receiving unsolicited calls from a scammer impersonating an MOM officer.

They were told that they employed workers who were involved in criminal activities or immigration-related issues. These include money laundering, an expired work permit or visa, and overstaying in the country.

When victims denied knowledge of employing such workers, the call was transferred to another person claiming to be an officer from, for example, the police or the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. This second scammer would accuse victims of being involved in criminal activities.

Victims were asked to do bank transfers or hand over cash to the scammers for “investigation” and “safekeeping”. Or they were instructed to declare their financial assets, report to the scammers daily, and avoid speaking to anyone about what was happening.

The ruse came to light after the scammers became uncontactable or when victims verified their situation with the police through official channels.

There are also reports of scammers telling victims that they could go online and use the Singapore Government Directory (SGDI) to verify the identity of public officers. However, the SGDI is not a means to do so, the police said.

Government officials will never ask people to transfer money, disclose banking details or install mobile apps from unofficial app stores, or transfer calls to the police, they added.

For more information about such crimes, or if in doubt, call the police hotline on 1800-255-0000. For urgent police assistance, dial 999.

An official form can be submitted online at

www.police.gov.sg/i-witness