Victims lose at least $1.1 million to scams, with a rise in fraudulent delivery notices.
As year-end sales events like Singles Day, Black Friday, and Christmas approach, online shoppers are warned to be cautious of a spike in parcel delivery phishing scams. Since January 2024, at least 631 such scams have been reported, with victims losing a total of at least $1.1 million.
The scams often involve fraudsters impersonating SingPost, Singapore’s postal service. Victims receive a message claiming that a parcel delivery to their address has failed, followed by a link to confirm their details. When they click the link, they are directed to a fake website that prompts them to enter credit card information. This allows the scammers to make unauthorized purchases using the victim’s banking details.
To avoid falling victim, the police advise the public to watch for signs of phishing, such as unexpected links or requests for payment details via SMS. SingPost will never ask for banking information through a text message, and any undelivered items will result in a physical notice to pick up the parcel from a post office or POPStation.
Shoppers can enhance their security by using apps like ScamShield, setting transaction limits on their cards, and enabling two-factor authentication for online accounts. The police encourage the public to report any suspicious activity and seek help from official sources such as the ScamShield helpline at 1799.
