Fraudulent traffic police website targets victims with fake fines
Singapore police warn public of deceptive SMS notifications and phishing scams, and how not to fall prey to these crimes
SINGAPORE — The police have recently discovered a new phishing scam, in which a fraudulent traffic police website tries to deceive victims into paying false traffic fines.
According to an advisory issued on Wednesday (24 May), individuals are tricked into visiting the website via an SMS notification informing them of an outstanding traffic offence. The message also warns recipients that failure to pay the fine promptly will result in additional late fees.
The scam SMS contains a link that directs victims to the fake website, where they are instructed to submit payment details such banking credentials, security codes, and one-time passwords (OTPs).
This advisory follows a previous warning issued by the police a week earlier regarding a scam involving a fake app called ScamShield. The malicious app was found to install malware on victims' mobile devices.
Police warn against downloading suspicious apps and phishing malware
According to the police, authentic traffic offences - such as those detected by traffic police cameras - would prompt the vehicle owner to receive a request for the driver's information via mail.
Subsequently, a notice of traffic offence would be issued to the responsible driver. The traffic police do not distribute digital versions of these notices.
To safeguard against such scams, the public are advised against downloading suspicious applications, as they may contain phishing malware capable of compromising devices.
Furthermore, they should take precautionary measures, including installing the authentic ScamShield app and enabling security features like two-factor or multi-factor authentication for banking transactions. Setting transaction limits on Internet banking transactions is also recommended.
Refrain from clicking dubious URL links
According to the police, the public should also refrain from clicking on dubious URL links found in unofficial sources and always verify the authenticity of URLs by consulting the official website or other trusted sources.
The public are also encouraged to report any encountered scams to the authorities and inform their family and friends about these fraudulent activities. Individuals who have fallen victim to a scam and have experienced fraudulent transactions should report the incident to their banks immediately.
To ensure protection against scams, individuals are urged to be vigilant and verify information with official sources such as www.scamalert.sg or by contacting the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-7726688.
For information regarding payment methods for traffic offences, the public can visit https://www.police.gov.sg/Advisories/Traffic/Traffic-Matters.
Anyone with information related to such crimes is urged to contact the police hotline at 1800-2550000 or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.
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