Scammers in Singapore are getting more brazen and their tactics are getting more creative as well.
On Tuesday (28 Jan), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) issued an advisory on a new scam which allegedly impersonates the police to phish for victims’ credit card details.
The scams will apparently ‘lock’ the user’s computer and ask for a fine to be paid using a credit card.
In the advisory, SPF shared that the scammers made use of a “web browser’s full-screen mode” to show a Windows 10 image showing a fake SPF site. The image would inform the user that their computer has been locked.
PSA — If you’d like to know what it feels like to be on ‘full-screen mode’, press F11. Hit the same button to exit.
Victims would not be able to click on the ‘Start’ menu or open and close applications since they would be clicking on the display image.
Thus, some victims would believe that their computers are locked.
The scammers would ‘explain’ that the user’s computer was locked because of “viewing and dissemination of materials forbidden by law of Singapore”. Such materials include pornography with paedophilia, rape and zoophilia.
A deadline would be given to pay a $1,000 ‘fine’. Failing to do so meant that “case materials” would be given to SPF.
Victims were then asked to enter their credit card details in order to unlock their desktop.
Source
SPF explained that such websites are “phishing sites in disguise” specially designed to steal victims’ personal information and banking details.
Scammers can then use these details to make purchases and transactions.
In the advisory, SPF clarified that the police are unable to lock a person’s desktop, unlike what the scam claims.
The official police website is www.police.gov.sg.
Should you come across the fake SPF website, here’s what you can do:
If you have any information regarding such crimes, please call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. Alternatively, you can call the anti-scam helpline at 1800-722-6688 for scam-related advice.
We hope that everyone will stay alert and vigilant to prevent ourselves and others from falling prey to such horrible scams.
Let’s do what we can to keep ourselves safe from these scammers.
Featured image adapted from Channel NewsAsia.
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