Scam victims asked to download fake ScamShield app after answering ad for food items like otah

The ScamShield app is meant to protect you from scams.

But scammers are now using a fake ScamShield app to take over your device.

In this scam, ads for food items, such as otah, via social media messaging platforms like Facebook on Android mobile devices are used to lure victims.

Victims would contact the scammers via WhatsApp and the scammers would send a uniform resource locator (URL) to the victims.

The scammers would inform the victims to download the application found at the URL to purchase the food items and to make payment.

Unauthorised transactions would be made from the victim's bank accounts or credit cards.

Shortly after making these unauthorised transactions, the scammers would contact the victim and introduce themselves as bank staff who are following up on the fraudulent transactions.

The scammer would then recommend the victim download the ScamShield app using a URL link that fraudulently bears the ScamShield logo on the pretext of getting the victim to safeguard himself against scams and to make a report in the ScamShield app.

Scammers would insist that the URL link provided is legitimate and would inform victims not to download the ScamShield app from the official Google Play Store.

You are reminded of the dangers of downloading applications from third-party or dubious sites that can lead to malware being installed on victims’ mobile phones, computers and other devices.

Scammers will trick victims into installing malware-infected applications that are outside the app store.

To find out more on downloading the ScamShield App on your Android devices, please refer to the official guide at www.scamshield.org.sg/setup-guide.

To find out more about malware and the preventive steps that users can take to protect their devices, please refer to CSA's SingCERT advisory at www.csa.gov.sg/alerts-advisories/Advisories/2021/ad-2021-008