According to a report in Oriental Daily News, about 60 people fell for the scam, resulting in losses of between RM180 and RM9,000, as a result of fraudsters posing as DBS bankers sending mobile phone messages and then using the links to steal users’ personal data.
The fraudsters would send mobile phone messages indicating unusual transactions on the victim’s bank card or bank account and asking them to click on a link to verify their identity. Once the victim clicks on the link, he or she will also be redirected to a fake bank website created by the fraudsters. After the victim enters his or her username and password, the system asks him or her to enter a one-time verification code (OTP). An unknown transaction will then appear on the victim’s deposit or bank card.
DBS Bank (DBS) and Singapore Police conducted several anti-fraud operations and managed to chase back approximately RM519,000 but 60 people are still victims.
Fraudulent public security scams are also frequent in Singapore, with at least 231 people being defrauded of more than RM79.49 million since January this year. Victims are told they are suspected of money laundering and other charges, and calls are routed to fake public security officers in China.
The caller would be transferred to a fake Chinese public security officer who would ask the victim to open a local bank account to make the transfer, and the victim would not know they had been scammed until they realised they would not be able to recover the deposit.
We urge people not to reveal their bank passwords and card numbers to strangers, and not to click on links in text messages or download software from unknown sources.
