Singapore customs warns of two new parcel scam variants targeting the public
Singapore Customs has issued a fresh alert after two sophisticated parcel-related scams emerged, involving fake inspection notices, forged documents and threats of legal action to pressure victims into paying fees or revealing bank details.
- Scammers are impersonating Singapore Customs via email and WhatsApp using forged documents and threats.
- Victims are pressured to pay “verification fees” to Malaysian bank accounts or release fees for fake gold bars.
- Singapore Customs emphasises it never requests payment or bank details through unofficial channels.
SINGAPORE: Singapore Customs has warned of a rising number of victims targeted by scammers impersonating Customs officers through email.
In this scheme, scammers contact victims using Gmail addresses, claiming their parcels are being withheld for “compliance reasons”. A forged inspection notice — falsely attributed to a senior Customs official — informs the victim that an on-site inspection has been scheduled.
Victims are then offered an “alternative”: pay a “verification fee” to a Malaysian bank account in exchange for the release of the parcel and a supposed full refund later.
To create legitimacy, victims are instructed to complete a forged “Singapore Customs Inspection Agreement” with their bank account details.
As payment deadlines approach, the scammers escalate pressure, threatening to report them to Malaysian police or initiate arrest action over alleged “contraband”.
Several affected individuals who contacted Singapore Customs noted that scammers used Malaysia-registered phone numbers.
WhatsApp Scam Involving Fake Gold Bars
In a second variant, scammers use WhatsApp to pose as Customs officers, claiming gold bars registered under the victim’s name have been detained.
They send photos of the supposed gold bars and forged documents featuring outdated Customs logos and falsified shipping details.
Victims are told to pay release fees or face “seizure”, legal action for “customs evasion”, or permanent blacklisting from future shipments.
Customs Issues Firm Reminder
Singapore Customs stressed that it never requests payment for releasing parcels and does not communicate via personal email accounts, WhatsApp or social-messaging platforms.
Official emails will always use the @customs.gov.sg domain, and government officers will never ask for banking information through calls, texts or emails.
Rising scam losses and tougher penalties
Singapore has lost more than S$3.4 billion to scams since 2019. Victims lost a record S$1.1 billion in 2024, and over S$600 million between January and August 2025.
On 4 November, Singapore Parliament passes new law introducing caning for scam syndicate members and obscene content administrators.
Under the new law, members of scam syndicates and those aiding them—such as money mules who provide bank accounts, SIM cards, or Singpass credentials—face caning of up to 24 strokes. Money mules may be subjected to up to 12 strokes of discretionary caning.
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