Beware of fake SMS claiming to be from Singapore Police Force

Members of the public are reminded to be wary of fake SMSes with spoofed headers that make it seem like the messages came from the police.

In one case, the receiver of the SMS was a victim of loan scam who has provided his personal particulars and bank account details for the application of loans.

"He was asked to transfer money to make payment for administrative or transfer fees, before a loan could be disbursed to him," said the police.

"While waiting for his loan approval, he received a fake SMS with the header ‘SPF’. The message indicated that he was under investigation for money laundering offences and was instructed to contact the investigation officer listed in the SMS for further information.

"The police would like to emphasise that these SMSes were not sent by the Singapore Police Force."

Members of the public are advised on the following:

• Always verify the authenticity of the information by contacting the relevant government agencies through their official hotline. The public can verify such information through the police hotline at 1800-255-0000;

• Never transfer funds into bank accounts belonging to someone you do not know;

• Licensed moneylenders are not allowed to solicit for loans via text messages, phone calls or social media platforms;

• Licensed moneylenders are required to meet the borrower in person at the approved place of business to conduct physical face-to-face verification of his identity before granting any loan. The business address of each licensed moneylender is published on the Ministry of Law’s Registry of Moneylenders website; and

• Licensed moneylenders will not ask a loan applicant to make any payment before the disbursement of a loan, or to secure the disbursement of a loan. This includes GST, 'admin fee', 'processing fee', or any other fee. Any administrative fee that is charged by licensed moneylenders after a loan has been granted will be deducted from the loan principal that is disbursed to the borrower.

If you have information related to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.

For urgent police assistance, call '999'.

More information on scams can be found on www.scamalert.sg or via the anti-scam hotline at 1800-722-6688.