Beware of investment scams impersonating popular investors on Facebook, police warn

Seen an advertisement on Facebook promising "exclusive investment tips" from a well-known investor, investment expert or financial personality?

Don't click on the ad, or you could be the next scam victim.

In an advisory issued on Sunday (Oct 18), the police warned the public of the scam variant, which involves scammers impersonating such personalities on Facebook to lure victims into investing through fraudulent platforms.

According to the police, victims would come across advertisements on Facebook often promising "exclusive investment tips", "free stock analysis" or high returns with low risk.

Those who click on the advertisements would be directed to external websites, which then redirected them to WhatsApp chats with scammers posing as investment gurus or financial advisors.

They would then be persuaded to download investment applications or access trading websites controlled by the scammers, where they are encouraged to invest increasing sums of money.

Victims would only realise that they had been scammed when they were unable to withdraw their funds or when the scammers became uncontactable.

Members of the public are encouraged to verify the legitimacy of investment opportunities and persons offering investment services by checking the Monetary Authority of Singapore's Investor Alert List, Financial Institution Representatives Register and Financial Institutions Directory.

They should also look out for user reviews and ratings of investment apps before downloading them.

"Be wary of advertisements promising guaranteed profits, exclusive investment tips or high returns with little or no risk.

"Do not invest or transfer money solely based on instructions received through social media advertisements or messaging platforms," the police said.

你是否在 Facebook 上看到过广告，声称提供来自知名投资者、投资专家或金融界人士的“独家投资秘诀”？

不要点击广告，否则你可能成为下一个诈骗受害者。

警方在周日（10 月 18 日）发布的一份公告中警告公众，这种诈骗手段包括诈骗分子在 Facebook 上冒充名人，诱骗受害者通过欺诈平台进行投资。

警方表示，受害者经常会在 Facebook 上看到广告，这些广告承诺提供“独家投资技巧”、“免费股票分析”或“高回报低风险”。

点击广告的用户将被引导至外部网站，然后这些网站会将他们重定向到 WhatsApp 聊天，与冒充投资大师或财务顾问的诈骗者进行聊天。

然后，他们会被说服下载投资应用程序或访问诈骗者控制的交易网站，并被鼓励投入越来越多的资金。

受害者只有在无法提取资金或与诈骗者失去联系时才会意识到自己被骗了。

鼓励公众通过查阅新加坡金融管理局的投资者警示名单、金融机构代表登记册和金融机构名录，来核实投资机会和提供投资服务的人员的合法性。

用户在下载投资类应用程序之前，也应该查看用户评价和评分。

“要警惕那些承诺保证盈利、独家投资秘诀或高回报且风险极低甚至没有风险的广告。

警方表示：“不要仅根据通过社交媒体广告或即时通讯平台收到的指示进行投资或转账。”