SINGAPORE: A family recently fell victim to a scam that drained $150,000 from their life savings while they were attempting to purchase organic eggs v
SINGAPORE: A family recently fell victim to a scam that drained $150,000 from their life savings while they were attempting to purchase organic eggs via a Facebook advertisement, CNA reported on Wednesday (Dec 27). The incident unfolded on Nov 26, when Singh’s wife saw an appealing offer for 60 organic eggs on Facebook. The couple clicked on the “order” button and were directed to a WhatsApp chat with the supposed seller, “Jason.”
Failed Payment, Big Losses
Jason instructed them to make a deposit using a linked app, with the balance due upon delivery. Singh described the payment page as strikingly similar to UOB’s online banking interface. However, after entering their bank details, the transaction failed. The next day, Singh was alerted by a UOB customer service call about a large transaction attempt, which he immediately denied.
Shocking Discovery
When Singh logged into his UOB and DBS accounts, he found that their accounts were wiped clean. “When I saw zero, zero, zero, I went into a state of shock,” he told CNA. They filed a police report and alerted the banks.
Calls for Bank Accountability
Singh noted a series of $15,000 withdrawals from his UOB account and around $30,000 taken from his DBS account, calling on the banks to accept some responsibility, as he had not personally authorized these transfers. Both UOB and DBS stated they are aware of the case and are in touch with Singh.
Surge in Malware Scams
December has seen a rise in malware scams, with scammers posing as service sellers and directing victims to download malware-laced apps, which then capture sensitive banking credentials. The police recommend using ScamShield, setting transaction limits, and utilizing two-factor authentication for online banking.
For tips on protecting yourself from scams, visit Scam Alert or contact the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688.
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