Three new cases of fake bulk orders have emerged in Singapore, involving individuals who pretended to be Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) or Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel, reported The Straits Times.
Businesses received procurement requests using fraudulent documents, resulting in financial losses worth thousands of dollars, according to official statements and police reports published on 23 September 2025.
How the Scams Unfolded
The three incidents saw suspects sending what appeared to be official bulk procurement orders to local businesses.
The documents bore MINDEF or SAF insignia and spanned multiple pages.
Some targeted companies prepared large quantities of food or goods, only to discover that the orders were fake once pickup times were missed. A bakery, a florist, and a hawker stall with 150 packets of chicken and mutton briyani were among the latest victims.
Previous cases featured phone calls from fraudsters claiming to be uniformed personnel. Most recently, scammers escalated their approach with fabricated paperwork.
Individuals and Syndicates Involved
Six suspects have been arrested for their involvement in the scams.
Recent police operations nabbed three people between 16 and 31 years old across different areas in Singapore.
Preliminary investigations point to a scam syndicate operating behind the scenes, directing individuals to set up bank accounts, acquire phone lines, and facilitate document forgery in exchange for kickbacks.
At least one 22-year-old woman was formally charged in court for her part in the crimes; her sentencing may include prison, fines, or both. Investigations into other suspects remain ongoing.
Some scammers tried to boost the authenticity of the scheme by mentioning Bedok Camp, a common detail in several cases.
Independent checks of WhatsApp profiles linked to scam phone numbers revealed inconsistencies in the military attire of the impersonators. There is no evidence so far linking the perpetrators to actual members of the SAF.
Impact on Businesses
Many owners, left with raw ingredients or unsold goods, scrambled to offload their products at discounted prices.
One bakery sold mystery boxes at $30 each through Instagram, managing to recoup some costs before the food spoiled.
A florist lost more than $1,000 preparing bouquets for an order attributed to fake government procurement. Even hawker stalls have suffered, with food going to waste when hoax orders were left uncollected.
Police and MINDEF Response
MINDEF has issued repeated public alerts through official social media channels, asking businesses to report suspicious orders directly to law enforcement.
Police continue to conduct targeted raids and forensic analysis of digital evidence to track down the syndicate and its associates.
All businesses are advised to confirm large orders independently, via verified government channels, before committing resources.
Here’s the REAL reason why everyone is hanging plushies on their bags, simplified for you:
