At least S$362,000 lost in scams involving fake M1 and MAS officials via WhatsApp

At least S$362,000 has been lost to scammers who impersonated telecommunications company M1 and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), according to a police advisory issued on 6 October 2025.

Since September, at least 13 victims have fallen prey to this scam, which begins with unsolicited phone or WhatsApp calls from individuals claiming to be M1 employees.

Victims were told they had pending phone deliveries or outstanding payments linked to existing mobile plans. When the victims denied such arrangements, they were directed to contact a supposed customer service representative via WhatsApp.

The second scammer would then pose as an MAS officer and claim the victim’s personal details had been used for illegal activities, such as money laundering or fraud.

Victims were coerced into transferring funds to so-called “safety accounts,” making payments via PayNow or cryptocurrency, or even handing over cash in person to strangers.

In some cases, scammers instructed victims to share their phone screens on WhatsApp while logging into their bank accounts, exposing sensitive financial data.

According to the police, the scam was often uncovered when further payment was requested, or when victims verified the claims with authorities.

The police emphasised that MAS and other government agencies will never request money transfers or banking logins over the phone or via messaging apps.

They warned the public not to transfer money or share confidential banking information with unknown individuals, and not to download mobile applications from unverified sources.

Anyone who suspects a scam or receives suspicious calls should visit www.scamshield.gov.sg for guidance and verification tools.