Posted by: Priyanshu Raj Singh
Singapore
Scam
1. Online Travel Package Scams
Scammers set up fake travel websites offering tourists
attractive packages to their destination. They can also trick buyers into
making early deposits before providing any service and may use local bank accounts
or provide a copy of legal documents to make buyers believe that they are
genuine sellers.
It has been reported that at least 48 victims have
lost $1.7m to travel package scams online when travelling to Singapore.
The best way to avoid this scam is to check with the
Singapore Tourism Board and the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore
if a vendor is an accredited travel agent. You must buy tickets only from
authorized sellers and reputable sources.
Common around: Across Singapore since it is an online
scam.
2. Home/Room Rental Scam
A scammer offers a room or house for rent and
pressurizes the victim to pay the rent in advance. Another version is when
scammers put up fake property listings online and contact victims through
WhatsApp pretending to be property agents. They then ask the victims for
deposits in order to secure appointments to view the properties. They cease all
contact after they have received their payout.
To avoid this scam, insist on proper property
information to be displayed. If you are already in the country, insist to visit
the site yourself before making any payment. You should also ensure that the
person you're dealing with is the rightful owner or an accredited real estate
agent.
Common around: Across Singapore as it is an online
scam.
3. Caller Scams
Getting a local SIM card when in a new country is a
necessity. Some scams that are associated with new SIM cards for tourists are
either callers impersonating a government official or calling from a recruiting
agency (for those moving to the country to avail jobs).
These scammers may play an automated message and say
that some of their documentation didn't come through. They then ask the victim
for their personal data like bank account details, visa details, etc. They
pressurize the victim to share this information and later misuse it.
You can avoid
falling for this scam by never sharing personal details over the phone and not
falling for scare tactics that scammers might use. Hang up immediately if the caller
cannot identify themselves properly. Always verify the authenticity of the
information through official websites.
Common around: Across Singapore.
4. E-commerce Food Item Scams
Buying anything online involves an element of risk
because it can get slightly difficult trying to identify a real seller against
a scammer. Scammers pose as sellers and post offers or sponsored advertisements
of food items on online platforms. Victims then contact the sellers and make
the payment online, but do not receive the goods or the seller becomes
uncontactable.
The best way to avoid this scam is to check the
details of deals with official sources and be wary when prices seem too good to
be true. One should also verify the legitimacy of sellers through customer
reviews and ratings and avoid making payments in advance to bank accounts
belonging to unknown individuals.
Common around: Across Singapore since it is an online
scam. Facebook pages such as Grocery Retail, Department Store, Juewei Food,
Baihui Mall and Ocean Fishery Exchange; have been identified as scams and been
reported to the police.
5. Rental Car Scam
Tourists can be scammed online in another way when
wanting to rent a car in Singapore. In many cases, the person is asked to make
the full payment online to rent a car, which they availed through a super cheap
deal. After paying the deposit or the full rental amount, they find that the
car or agency does not exist.
Some ways to avoid it are by checking that the car
rental photos are catered to the make and model and not generic. The rates
should be the prevailing amount and not unusually low. You can also insist on
the documentation of the car rental details, payment and vehicle identification
documents.
Common around: Across Singapore since it is an online
scam.
6. Credit-for-Sex Scam
This is a very common scam in Singapore that resulted
in S$2.1 million loss to scammers. In this case, a stranger befriends victims
through social media platforms such as WeChat, WhatsApp, Telegram or MiChat.
The scammer will then ask for a meet-up, date or sexual favours in return for
some form of payment online or through gift cards.
After the payment is made, the scammers become
uncontactable or do not show up for a date or could even cat phish the victim.
To avoid falling for this scam, do not give out
personal details or disclose the gift cards PINs to strangers you meet online.
Do not accept favours offered in exchange for monetary benefit.
Common around: Across Singapore since it is an online
scam.
7. Restaurant Scams
The Singaporean cuisine is renowned for its seafood.
In many restaurants in Singapore, price is determined basis the portion of food
that is served. Both these quantities will be mentioned on the menu.
Some scams have been reported where tourists have been
charged a higher price for lesser quantities of food. There have also been
"seasonal charges" added to the bill or prices mentioned as
"starting from $XX". It's best to avoid places like this or confirm
the price and portion before ordering.
Common around: Seafood restaurants at Boat Quay (*This
scam is most likely to happen in local restaurants in Singapore.)
8. Online Shopping Scams
With almost S$21.3 lost to scammers through online
shopping, online shopping is one of the most common scams in Singapore. It
works in such a way that an unbelievable deal for gadgets, tickets, fabrics,
etc. grabs the victims’ attention.
They make a payment online for the same, but never
receive the item. In some cases, it is also reported that victims were asked to
pay in cash for items they did not order. Many fake sellers create fake
websites, or even place advertisements on social media to build credibility.
To avoid falling for this scam, do not be naïve when
shopping online. Scammers often omit important product information, customer
reviews and do not have proper customer support. Transact within the platform.
Wherever possible, insist on cash-on-delivery.
Common around: Across Singapore since it is an online
scam.
9. Fake Luxury Products Scam
Selling luxury products at a discounted price in a
market environment is immediately a red flag for a scam. In Singapore, fake
luxury goods like perfumes, electronics, pills and other branded items are sold
at very cheap rates. These products should be immediately identified as
rip-offs. For example, branded perfumes are watered down and don’t last long.
To avoid this scam, it is better to buy branded items
at their original quality at an outlet store rather than getting scammed for a
discounted price.
Common around: Bugis Street, Chinatown, Pasar Malam
(the pop-up street market) and Sim Lim Square.
10. Electronics Shopping Scams
Scams associated with electronics occur when some
vendors advertise gadgets at a cheap price. They then ask the victim to make
the payment without informing them of the warranty charges. After the payment
is done, the scammers then ask for thousands for the warranty.
They sometimes refuse to give the item if that amount
is not paid. Some scammers have also been reported to have swapped the original
products for fake ones.
Shopping for electronics and gadgets in Asian
countries is a very common activity among tourists, however, it is important to
remember to do your research about the price and specifications of the gadget
before making your purchase. It is also advised to buy gadgets from reputable
shops or big chains instead.
Common around: Bugis- Sim Lim Square, Chinatown-
People’s Park Complex, shops in the area Orchard- Lucky Plaza.
11. Phishing Scams
Phishing scams in Singapore have resulted in around
S$16.5 million loss. The victim might receive a call, text or email soliciting
personal information to claim a prize, secure the victims’ online accounts or
help investigate fraudulent transactions. Fake websites are created to look
identical to the official sites of organisations or banks.
Scammers then use the victims’ personal information
for identity theft, financial gain, etc. The best way to avoid this scam is by
never sharing personal details like bank or card details online or over the
call. It is also best to never click on URLs in unsolicited emails and text
messages.
Common around: Across Singapore as it is an online
scam.
12. Fake Ticket Scams
Ticket scams in Singapore occur at tourist hubs and
entertainment acts. Scammers approach tourists offering discounted or
counterfeit tickets. It is reported that at least 137 people have been duped in
fake concert ticket scams since March 2023, losing about $170,000 in total.
Victims found advertised concert tickets on various online
platforms. The scammers create a sense of urgency around the tickets forcing
the victims to make an advance payment. Victims realise they are scammed only
when they do not receive the tickets or have received fake tickets and were
later denied entry at concerts/public attractions.
It's advisable to purchase tickets directly from authorized
ticketing booths or reputable online platforms to avoid falling victim to such
scams.
Common around: Online platforms and popular attractions such
as Universal Studios Singapore, Gardens by the Bay, or the Night Safari.
13. Fake Monks Scam:
This scam is prevalent not only in Singapore but
across Asian countries. People dressed as Monks roam the streets of tourist
hubs asking for donations. Some of them can be seen tying bracelets or selling
religious pendants to tourists.
Although this scam has become scarce over the years,
it is still necessary to remain cautious about people asking for alms.
Monks do not roam the streets begging for money or
trying to sell religious artefacts to tourists/strangers. They do not pester
people into buying items for a quick buck either. So, if you do encounter
someone dressed as a monk in Singapore, simply ignore them and walk away.
Common around: Areas around Geylang and Redhill.
14. Nightlife Scams
Experiencing the nightlife of a new, exotic country is
a must-try! However, it is important to be cautious as it is easier for people
to take advantage of someone who is under any influence. Scammers may offer
fake services, such as drugs or prostitution, or try to steal personal
belongings.
Although Singapore is relatively safe even during the
night, it is still wise to be aware of yourself, your belongings and your
surroundings.
Common around: Popular nightlife areas, such as Clarke
Quay or Geylang.
15. Taxi Scams
Taxi scams are one of the most common tourist scams
across the world. Unfortunately, Singapore is not excluded from the list. Taxi
scams occur to tourists visiting Singapore, although it is reportedly rare.
This type of scam occurs when taxi drivers either
charge a high rate for a short distance, they refuse to take the ride
especially if the destination is a little out of town because they have to deal
with an empty trip back, or the most notorious scam is when taxi drivers return
your money with Malaysian Ringgit as change.
To avoid this scam from occurring to you, you can
always book a ride using local apps or even using public transport. It’s better
to know the route you must travel and the approximate cost before getting
started on your ride. This will prevent you from getting scammed into paying a
higher price.
Common around: Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore,
around Changi Airport, and other places.
