SINGAPORE – A scam involving fake advertisements for senior-focused activities, water-based fitness activities and recycling initiatives is making its rounds on social media, with victims losing nearly $1 million to this ruse since April.
At least 62 cases have been reported during this period, with total losses amounting to at least $989,000, the police said in a statement on Oct 20.
In these cases, victims who encountered the fake advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook would be tricked into downloading an Android Application Package file to register for programmes or services.
After installing the application, victims would receive calls from scammers impersonating government officials or bank representatives who claim that the victims’ devices or bank accounts had been compromised.
The victims would then be pressured by scammers into transferring money, sharing their banking details or personal information, or surrendering valuables under the guise of an “investigation”.
In some cases, scammers would make bank transactions through malware installed on the victims’ devices, the police said.
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