At least S$379,000 lost to scammers impersonating MOM officers since May
Scammers posing as Ministry of Manpower (MOM) officers have cheated victims out of at least S$379,000 since May 2025, according to police. The fraudsters typically accuse victims of employing illegal workers before coercing them into handing over money for so-called investigations.
- At least S$379,000 lost since May in scams involving fake MOM officers.
- Victims falsely accused of employing workers linked to crimes or immigration issues.
- Calls often transferred to scammers posing as police or ICA officers.
- Victims coerced into transferring money for “investigations.”
- Police: SGDI is not a valid verification tool.
- In 2024, 1,504 cases of such scams reported, with S$151.3 million lost.
SINGAPORE: At least S$379,000 has been lost to scammers impersonating Ministry of Manpower (MOM) officers since May, police said on 3 June.
The amount is linked to at least six cases. Victims typically receive unsolicited calls from individuals claiming to be MOM officials, warning them that they are linked to workers allegedly involved in criminal activities or immigration issues such as money laundering, overstaying, or expired permits.
When the victims deny wrongdoing, the call is usually transferred to another fraudster posing as an officer from another agency, such as the police or the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). The second scammer then escalates the accusations, claiming the victim is involved in crimes.
Victims are pressured into transferring money or handing over cash for “investigation” or “safekeeping.” In some cases, they are told to declare their financial assets, check in daily with the scammers, and not inform anyone about the situation.
The scam is often uncovered when victims fail to re-establish contact with the fraudsters or confirm the situation with the police through official channels.
Police noted that some victims were told to use the Singapore Government Directory (SGDI) to verify public officers’ identities. However, the SGDI is not a valid verification tool.
Authorities emphasised that genuine government officials will never:
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Request money transfers or banking details,
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Instruct individuals to install apps from unofficial stores, or
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Transfer calls to the police.
A growing scam trend
Government official impersonation scams have surged in recent years. According to the Singapore Police Force’s Annual Scams and Cybercrime Brief 2024, there were 1,504 reported cases of such scams in 2024, with victims losing at least S$151.3 million.
Most victims were between 50 and 64 years old, making up nearly 29% of cases. Scammers commonly used phone calls and WhatsApp messages as their main contact methods.
Public advice
The police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to verify any suspicious claims directly with government agencies through official hotlines.
Those in doubt can call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000 or dial 999 for urgent assistance. Reports can also be filed online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.
