Singapore police warn of Alipay impersonation scams: 51 cases since Sept, losses hit S$374,000
Since September 2025, at least 51 cases of Alipay impersonation scams have been reported in Singapore, with total losses of at least $374,000. Police and Alipay are urging the public to remain vigilant and not share personal or banking information.
- At least 51 cases of Alipay impersonation scams have been reported since September 2025, with total losses of at least $374,000.
- Scammers contact victims via unsolicited calls and often redirect them to fake bank or payment staff.
- The SPF advises the public not to transfer money or share personal information with unknown individuals and to always verify identities before taking any action.
SINGAPORE: At least 51 cases involving the impersonation of Alipay representatives have been reported since September 2025, resulting in total losses of at least $374,000, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a statement on 22 October.
In this scam variant, victims receive unsolicited phone calls from individuals posing as Alipay staff.
The callers inform victims that money will be auto-deducted from their accounts for subscriptions or services, such as Alipay Services, Alipay Account Upgrade, or Alipay Payment Agreement, unless the transaction is cancelled.
Victims are often redirected to other scammers pretending to be bank staff or payment service providers via online messaging platforms, who then offer to assist with the cancellation.
They are instructed to verify their identities and bank accounts by making monetary transfers via bank accounts or through QR codes to YouTrip and/or Alipay.
In some cases, victims are guided to increase their bank transfer limits and perform transactions using WhatsApp’s screen-sharing function.
Scammers assure victims that the transactions will not go through or that the money will be refunded.
Victims typically realise they have been scammed when refunds do not materialise or after seeking verification from the Police.
The SPF reminded the public not to transfer money or disclose personal information to unknown individuals or anyone whose identity has not been verified.
Members of the public are also advised against sharing their device screens while performing banking transactions, as this may allow scammers to obtain sensitive personal and banking information.
Alipay emphasised that its staff would never make unsolicited calls requesting personal details or asking for payments.
Customers seeking clarification about their accounts are encouraged to contact Alipay through official channels, such as the ‘Help Center’ function within the official Alipay App.
Members of the public are advised to download the Alipay App only through official channels.
The Police also urged the public to adopt precautionary measures, including installing the ScamShield App to block suspicious calls and filter SMSes, and alerting banks immediately of any unusual activity in their accounts.
Members of the public can check for scams using official sources such as the ScamShield App or the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799.
Those who suspect they have fallen victim to a scam are advised to contact their bank immediately to block fraudulent transactions and file a police report.
For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg.
