Pregnant Woman Scammed Out of Nearly $60,000 After Trying to Order Affordable Meals

A 32-year-old pregnant woman in Singapore, identified as Ms. Yan, lost nearly all her savings after falling victim to a tingkat meal delivery scam she encountered on Facebook. Seeking healthier meal options, Yan was drawn to an ad on September 4 that offered a $5 meal with one meat and two vegetable dishes. She reached out to the seller on WhatsApp, who then instructed her to download an APK file to complete her payment.

After struggling to download the file, Yan lost interest and asked to cancel the order, ignoring the seller’s voice messages. However, she noticed something unusual two days later when she was unable to withdraw $50 from her bank account. Alarmed, Yan contacted her bank and learned that over $58,000 had been transferred out of her accounts.

Suspecting that she had fallen for a malware scam, Yan reported the incident to the police. She shared that while she never succeeded in downloading the APK file, her phone had become unusually hot, and her mobile banking app became inaccessible. Yan, who had diligently saved nearly $60,000 over seven years of working in Singapore, was left with only 94 cents in her account.

The incident also disrupted her plans to return to Malaysia in November to give birth. In a show of support, Yan’s colleagues pooled together funds, giving her red packets to help with immediate expenses, while her husband rushed to Singapore from Malaysia upon learning of the scam.

The Singapore police have noted an increase in similar malware scams and issued warnings to the public. They advise individuals to avoid downloading suspicious APK files and to adopt protective measures, including installing anti-virus software, downloading apps only from official stores, and reporting suspicious transactions promptly.

For further guidance on avoiding scams, Singapore residents can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the anti-scam helpline at 1800-722-6688.