Nearly $1 million lost through impersonation scams linked to fake social media ads

Victims would be tricked into downloading an APK file to register for programmes or services.

PHOTOS: SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE

Published Oct 20, 2026, 05:59 PM

Updated Oct 20, 2026, 05:59 PM

Fake social media ads for senior activities or recycling have led to almost $1 million in losses since April, said the police.

Victims were tricked into downloading APK files, then got calls from scammers posing as officials or bank staff who claimed their devices and accounts were compromised.

Police warned people to use official app stores, keep protection tools on, and never share money, banking details, or valuables; they also advised using ScamShield and checking ads through official channels.

SINGAPORE – A scam involving fake advertisements for senior-focused activities , water-based fitness activities and recycling initiatives is making its rounds on social media, with victims losing nearly $1 million to this ruse since April .

At least 62 cases have been reported during this period, with total losses amounting to at least $989,000 , the police said in a statement on Oct 20 .

In these cases, victims who encountered the fake advertisements on social media platforms such as Facebook would be tricked into downloading an Android Application Package file to register for programmes or services.

After installing the application, victims would receive calls from scammers impersonating government officials or bank representatives who would claim that the victims’ devices or bank accounts had been compromised.

The victims would then be pressured by scammers into transferring money, sharing their banking details or personal information, or surrendering valuables under the guise of an “investigation”.

In some cases, scammers would make bank transactions through malware installed on the victims’ devices, the police said.

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

The public is advised to only install apps from official application stores and never download applications from unknown sources.

Singapore g overnment officials will never ask you to hand over money or valuables, share banking details, install apps from unofficial app stores, or transfer your call to other government agencies, said the police.

The public should also take precautionary measures such as downloading the ScamShield app to block scam calls and filter suspicious SMSes, and checking the legitimacy of social media advertisements through official channels.

Internet crimes and scams

Advertising and marketing

受害者会被诱骗下载 APK 文件以注册程序或服务。

照片来源：新加坡警察部队

发布于 2026 年 10 月 20 日下午 5:59

更新于2026年10月20日下午5:59

警方表示，自四月份以来，虚假的社交媒体广告，例如老年人活动或回收利用广告，已造成近 100 万美元的损失。

受害者被诱骗下载 APK 文件，然后接到冒充官员或银行工作人员的诈骗电话，声称他们的设备和账户已被盗用。

警方警告民众使用官方应用商店，开启防护工具，切勿泄露金钱、银行信息或贵重物品；他们还建议使用 ScamShield 防诈骗工具，并通过官方渠道检查广告。

新加坡——一种涉及针对老年人的活动、水上健身活动和回收计划的虚假广告的骗局正在社交媒体上流传，自 4 月以来，受害者已因此损失近 100 万美元。

警方在 10 月 20 日的一份声明中表示，在此期间至少报告了 62 起案件，总损失至少达 989,000 美元。

在这些案例中，受害者在 Facebook 等社交媒体平台上遇到虚假广告后，会被诱骗下载 Android 应用程序包文件以注册程序或服务。

安装该应用程序后，受害者会接到冒充政府官员或银行代表的诈骗电话，声称受害者的设备或银行账户已被盗用。

然后，诈骗分子会以“调查”为幌子，向受害者施压，迫使他们转账、分享银行详细信息或个人信息，或交出贵重物品。

警方表示，在某些情况下，诈骗分子会通过安装在受害者设备上的恶意软件进行银行交易。

受害者只有在发现这些未经授权的交易后才会意识到自己被骗了。

建议公众仅从官方应用商店安装应用，切勿从未知来源下载应用。

警方表示，新加坡政府官员绝不会要求你交出金钱或贵重物品、分享银行信息、从非官方应用商店安装应用程序，或将你的电话转接到其他政府机构。

公众还应采取预防措施，例如下载 ScamShield 应用程序来拦截诈骗电话和过滤可疑短信，并通过官方渠道检查社交媒体广告的合法性。

网络犯罪和诈骗

广告与营销