Mooncake scam in Singapore swindles 27 victims, results in $325,000 losses in a month
SINGAPORE — The police revealed on Tuesday (5 September) that approximately $325,000 has been lost through a recent scam on social media platforms, where at least 27 individuals have become victims of fraudulent mooncake sales.
The fraud revolved around deceitful transactions of mooncakes on popular social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. Law enforcement officials shared information to aid the general public in evading these scams.
Victims Duped By Harmful Links, Lost Thousands
The individuals who fell for the scam informed us that they reached out to "vendors" promoting mooncakes on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
After showing their interest and making purchases using social communication apps, they were directed to WhatsApp to finalize their payments.
Nevertheless, law enforcement authorities have disclosed that the hyperlinks present in the WhatsApp messages prompted individuals to acquire an Android Package Kit (APK) file. This particular application is specifically tailored for Android operating systems and harbors malicious software.
In various cases, individuals who fell prey to scams were told to carry out transactions using PayNow or bank transfers in order to buy mooncakes. Later on, the scammers notified these victims that their orders had to be cancelled, citing problems related to production or lack of staff. Afterward, they cunningly guided the victims to harmful web addresses, pretending to provide refunds.
After victims downloaded and installed the APK file, scammers were able to remotely access their devices, enabling them to pilfer passwords and gain entry to banking credentials, as per the authorities.
Consequently, the individuals affected subsequently uncovered unauthorized activities in their bank accounts.
On Tuesday, a person using Facebook shared their encounter in the Complaint Singapore Facebook Group. According to the post, they purchased durian mooncakes from a seller named Duria Singapore 榴冠王 - 新加坡总代.
What a deceitful individual! Today, I got a phone call from Lily informing me about the scheduled delivery for tomorrow. Much to my astonishment, she conveyed that the factory faced an unfortunate situation where some personnel contracted COVID-19. Consequently, the establishment had to carry out extensive disinfection measures and would remain closed for the entire month. Unfortunately, Lily couldn't provide any assurance regarding the rescheduled delivery, prompting me to request a refund.
As per the user, the issue emerged as the seller demanded her to install an application to facilitate the refund. However, the app is solely accessible on Android devices.
She said, "As someone who utilizes an iPhone, it was simply not feasible. Lily confirmed that she would investigate on my behalf. The following day, she erased all the messages she had dispatched and restricted me from contacting her. She even blocked me on Facebook Messenger."
The user urged everyone to exercise caution while buying products from Facebook sellers.
A person who uses Facebook shared on Tuesday in a Facebook Group called Complaint Singapore about their recent purchase of durian mooncakes from a seller named Duria Singapore 榴冠王 - 新加坡总代 (PHOTO: Capture from Facebook/Complaint Singapore).
Secure Your Finances And Devices: Police's Tips
In order to safeguard oneself from becoming a target of such fraudulent activities, law enforcement authorities recommend implementing a range of preventive actions.
Some options to consider are downloading the ScamShield application, activating two-factor or multifactor authentication for banking applications, and establishing limits for online banking transactions.
Moreover, it is crucial to guarantee that devices are equipped with up-to-date antivirus/anti-malware software and to deactivate the "Install Unknown App" or "Unknown Sources" phone configurations.
Moreover, law enforcement officials advised the general public to exclusively download and install applications from authorized app marketplaces. They emphasized the necessity of being vigilant when prompted to download unfamiliar apps for making purchases on social media networks.
If they come across any deceitful transactions, the police advise them to promptly notify their banks and alert the appropriate authorities, as well as alert their loved ones and acquaintances about the fraudulent schemes.
If individuals have a hunch that their mobile devices might contain malicious software, they can implement the subsequent actions:
Put your phone on "airplane mode" and make sure that wi-fi is turned off. Avoid turning it on.
Perform a virus check.
Make sure to review your bank, Singpass, and Central Provident Fund accounts for any unauthorized transactions completed on different devices.
Notify the bank and appropriate authorities about the problem and proceed to lodge a complaint with the police.
To access more details about scams, individuals can check out the website www.scamalert.sg or get in touch with the anti-scam hotline at 1800-7226688.
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