Be very wary if you’ve received WhatsApp messages or emails inviting you to virtual meetings or even contribute to “urgent funding assistance” sought by the prime minister.
Earlier on May 6, the police had alerted the public of a scam variant where victims were convinced to sign a “non-disclosure agreement” (NDA) — before meeting virtually with senior government officials, including the president or ministers.
A man, who had prior interactions with government officials, has now become the latest victim of this scam variant.
He lost at least $4.9 million after believing that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had sought his help, through Secretary to the Cabinet Wong Hong Kuan, to provide “urgent funding assistance” relating to the situation at the Strait of Hormuz.
Modus operandi: ‘Highly sensitive and controlled’ matter
Screenshots of WhatsApp messages and an email received by the victim show the scammer claiming to be acting on the instruction of the Prime Minister’s Office.
The WhatsApp accounts used to scam the victim also had profile pictures showing the cabinet secretary and prime minister.
In the email, the scammer claims that the matter being discussed is “highly sensitive and controlled” and sought the victim’s cooperation not to discuss the contents of the email with any third parties.
He was also “instructed” to sign an NDA and provide a copy of his identification card.
The victim was provided with a copy of an “official letter of guarantee” purportedly bearing the signature of PM Wong.
