Almost $1 million lost to fake Facebook advertisements involving Android file download: Police

If you are an Android device user and have come across advertisements on Facebook that require you to download an application package (APK), do not do so or you could be the next victim of a malware-enabled scam.

In an advisory issued on Tuesday (Oct 20), the police alerted the public of the scam variant, which involves advertisements on social media platforms promoting senior-focused activities and programmes, water-based fitness activities, and recycling initiatives.

At least 62 cases have been reported since April, with losses amounting to at least $989,000.

Victims of this scam variant would chance upon such fake advertisements on social media platforms, such as Facebook, and be instructed to download an APK.

They were led to believe that this was required to facilitate programme registration or service arrangements, the police said.

But victims would instead end up receiving unsolicited calls from scammers impersonating government officials or bank representatives.

They were told that their devices or bank accounts had been compromised, or that they were implicated in criminal activities.

Victims would then be induced to transfer monies, disclose banking credentials or personal information, or surrender valuables for investigations.

Police said that in some cases, scammers were also able to perform unauthorised transactions from the victims' bank accounts through the malware installed on their devices.

The victims would only realise that they had been scammed after discovering such unauthorised transactions.

Members of the public are reminded to only install apps from official application stores.

They should also note that Singapore Government officials will never ask any one to transfer or hand over money or valuable, disclose banking login details, or transfer calls to the police or any other government agencies.

Those who are in doubt can call the 24/7 ScamShield helpline at 1799.

如果您是安卓设备用户，并且在 Facebook 上看到过要求您下载应用程序包 (APK) 的广告，请不要下载，否则您可能会成为恶意软件诈骗的下一个受害者。

警方在周二（10 月 20 日）发布的一份公告中提醒公众注意这种诈骗手段，该手段涉及在社交媒体平台上发布广告，宣传以老年人为中心的活动和项目、水上健身活动和回收计划。

自 4 月以来，至少已报告 62 起案件，损失金额至少达 989,000 美元。

这种骗局的受害者会在 Facebook 等社交媒体平台上偶然看到此类虚假广告，并被指示下载 APK 文件。

警方表示，他们被告知这样做是为了方便项目注册或服务安排。

但受害者最终却会接到冒充政府官员或银行代表的诈骗分子打来的骚扰电话。

他们被告知他们的设备或银行账户已被盗用，或者他们卷入了犯罪活动。

然后，受害者会被诱骗转移资金、泄露银行凭证或个人信息，或者交出贵重物品以供调查。

警方表示，在某些情况下，诈骗分子还可以通过安装在受害者设备上的恶意软件，从受害者的银行账户中进行未经授权的交易。

受害者只有在发现此类未经授权的交易后才会意识到自己被骗了。

提醒公众，请仅从官方应用商店安装应用程序。

他们还应该注意，新加坡政府官员绝不会要求任何人转移或交出金钱或贵重物品，也不会泄露银行登录信息，更不会将电话转接给警察或其他政府机构。

如有疑问，可拨打 24/7 ScamShield 热线 1799。