Scammers posing as MAS officers steal over S$3 million via WhatsApp screen sharing

Scammers impersonating officers from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) have stolen over S$3 million from at least 46 victims since June 2025.

According to a police statement on 26 June, the fraudsters exploited WhatsApp’s screen sharing function to gain access to victims’ banking details.

The scam typically begins with a call from a local number. Callers first pretend to represent organisations such as NTUC Income, NTUC Union, or UnionPay, falsely claiming irregularities in insurance policies supposedly purchased by the victims.

When victims deny involvement, they are redirected to a second caller. This individual poses as an MAS officer and claims that the victim’s bank account is linked to money laundering activities.

Victims are then told to transfer their savings to a so-called “safe” account, supposedly for protection during investigations. These accounts are in fact controlled by the scammers.

To facilitate this, fraudsters persuade victims to share their phone screens over WhatsApp. This allows the scammers full visibility of sensitive banking details and enables them to guide victims through unauthorised fund transfers.

Many victims only discover the deception when the scammers stop responding or demand further transfers.

Police have warned the public against sharing screens with unknown or unverified individuals, stressing that such actions could expose banking information and lead to major financial losses.

Authorities emphasised that genuine government officials will never ask for banking credentials, direct individuals to transfer money, or instruct them to install unofficial applications.

They also cautioned the public to be wary of calls claiming to connect them to law enforcement or other agencies, noting that no legitimate agency employs such methods.

To counter such scams, the police recommend installing the ScamShield app, which filters suspicious messages and blocks fraudulent calls. Banks should also be contacted immediately if unauthorised activity is detected.

The Singapore Police Force underscored the importance of vigilance as scams continue to rise sharply. In 2024 alone, victims in Singapore lost S$1.1 billion to scams, representing a 70 per cent increase from S$646 million in 2023. Since 2019, total scam-related losses have surpassed S$3.4 billion.

The number of reported scam cases has also climbed significantly, with 51,501 reports lodged in 2024—the highest on record.

Police investigations into the latest string of MAS impersonation scams remain ongoing. Members of the public are urged to report suspicious calls or messages immediately and to avoid following instructions from unknown callers.

Authorities said they are collaborating with telecommunications providers and digital platforms to disrupt fraud networks and reduce the risk of future incidents.