SBS Transit & ICA Both Issued Warnings About SMS & Phone Scams

In the past, the bad guys looked like this:

Now, the bad guys look like this:

Yes, it’s yet another PSA about scams because unlike days in the past whereby you can spot and smell a criminal from afar, criminals nowadays are faceless, curing and most importantly, extremely adaptable.

First Warning: SBS Transit

Now, you’ve got to hand it to them (scammers): they’re now even impersonating as a bus operator.

In this scam, people apparently received this SMS from…SBS.

With many of us taking SBS Transit buses or trains every day, it’s already scored a point with its first sentence, though you need to have travelled about 1,800 years ago.

But of course, SBS is quick to respond, posting this advisory on their Facebook Page:

They’ve also made a police report, saying, “This is the first time that SBS Transit’s name has been used in an effort to scam members of the public. We view this seriously.

“We are also posting an alert on our various communication platforms so that the public can be made aware of this scam, which we have no part in and neither does it originate from us. Members of the public who have received the scam message should delete it immediately without opening the link.

“Those who have disclosed credit card details or made fund transfers should contact their banks immediately to cancel the transaction and file a police report.”

But yesterday, it wasn’t just SBS Transit that has to send an advisory.

Second Warning: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)

Two hours earlier, ICA has also posted an advisory on their Facebook Page:

Lest you can’t read, here’s what is written minus the hashtags:

It has come to ICA’s attention that members of the public have been receiving calls from different numbers, such as the Immigration Offender hotline “1800 3916150” that allows the public to call and provide information on immigration offenders and related activities. The caller claimed to be an ICA officer and asked for the call recipient’s personal particulars or money transfers. Should he/she fail to do so, he/she would be deported to his/her country of origin.

This is a scam. ICA does not call members of the public to request money in any form over the phone. Members of the public are advised to take the following precautions when they receive such calls.

More details – http://bit.ly/2ZD5CE6

As usual, with any of these PSAs, we’re going to end of with these three points:

• Don’t Panic
• Don’t Believe
• Don’t Give

And also a call for you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, whereby we’ve got a series of anti-scam videos done in collaboration with the Singapore Police Force: