Scammers are calling people out of the blue, posing as telecommunications company staff, then transferring the call to a second scammer posing as an officer from the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) or the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Since 1 June 2026, the Police have recorded at least five such cases with total losses of at least $252,000. Knowing how this scam unfolds gives you the confidence to shut it down at the first call.

How this scam works:

Step 1: You get an unexpected call from someone claiming to represent a telecommunications company, saying you signed up for a service contract, registered a new mobile line, or bought a phone you never actually purchased.

Step 2: The caller transfers you to a second scammer, who claims to be an officer from MinLaw or MAS and accuses you of being involved in criminal activity.

Step 3: You are told to take out a loan from a licensed moneylender to help clear your name or fund the "investigation."

Step 4: You are instructed to transfer the loan money or deposit it in cash at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) into a so-called safe account.

You can spot this scam the moment anyone tells you to take out a loan for a government investigation. No official will ever ask you to do this.

Tips to protect yourself:

Know what officials will never ask for. MinLaw, MAS, and every other government agency will never ask you to transfer money, take out a loan, disclose your banking log-in details, or accept a call transferred straight from a telco to an officer.

Verify independently before you act. Hang up and check directly with the telecommunications company or the Police through their official channels.

Download the ScamShield app to block scam calls and filter scam SMSes. Use it to verify suspicious messages and contact details before responding.

Report what you see. If you come across a suspicious phone number, text message or website link, report it to us via the ScamShield app.

For more information on scams, visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.