Woman Loses $1.2 Million in Police Impersonation Scam

The Start of the Scam

Fraudsters impersonating police from Singapore's Anti-Scam Centre (ASC) duped a woman out of $1.2 million over the course of two months. The event emphasizes the hazards of official impersonation frauds, a sort of fraud that has been increasingly prevalent in recent years.

The victim, who desired anonymity, spoke with the media on March 14, 2025. She described how the fraud began on December 11, 2024, with a phone contact from a lady purporting to be Jenny, an ASC officer. Jenny told the victim that her identification card number was being exploited and advised her to make a police report.

Soon after, she was transferred to a police officer named “Inspector Yang”. This person provided her with a one-time view photograph of his alleged “police pass,” which vanished after she clicked on it. Despite her suspicions, the victim, who worked in finance and was in her fifties, was hesitant to probe him more. When she expressed her reservations, the scammer said, “I have the right to suspect you,” making her feel forced to cooperate.

Manipulation and Financial Loss

The fraudster then accused the woman of participating in a money laundering scheme, claiming that her identification card was used to create a bank account that received illegal monies. He requested that she give her bank statements and keep in touch with him many times a day via WhatsApp. “The case is confidential,” he said, cutting her off from her family and friends—a frequent ploy used by fraudsters to keep victims from seeking help.

On December 13, she got a letter pretending to be from the police, threatening her with money laundering charges if she didn't cooperate. The letter further stated that if she refused to comply, she would be held for 60 days. She was sick at the time and did not check the letter's legitimacy.

On December 14, the fraudster handed over the lady to another fictitious police officer, “Inspector Chong.” This new person told her to remove $500,000 from her bank account and create an account with a Chinese bank. The fraudster said the money would be used as bait to apprehend other offenders engaged in her case. “I was very sick and overloaded with work, so I wasn't thinking clearly,” she says. “I just wanted to close the case as quickly as possible.”

Between December 18 and 19, the victim moved $180,000 to multiple accounts at the Chinese bank. She was ordered to lie if ASC approached her, claiming to be cooperating with the inquiry. Two days later, her account was stopped by the Chinese bank owing to suspicious activity. The fraudster asked her to withdraw an additional $320,000 and meet with someone in person to hand her the money.

The Aftermath and Lessons Learned

On December 20, she took the remaining money in $100 bills and met with a man she thought was a police officer in a public place in Singapore. Throughout the deal, she was directed by “Inspector Chong.” Over the next few weeks, she visited with the same individual several times and handed out substantial quantities of money. Her last encounter took place on January 3, 2025, by which time she had handed her life savings to the crooks.

Throughout this time, the scammers kept convincing her that she was assisting with an investigation and telling her that the money would be returned after the operation was over. When Jane sought to collect her money, the fraudsters stated that the matter was being reviewed in the High Court and that she would have to wait for the decision. They stopped answering her calls on January 24, and it wasn't until later that she realized she'd been duped.

On February 6, Jane eventually reported the incident to the Pasir Ris Neighbourhood Police Centre. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “I've learned to let go; I just see it as a charity, and I assume that whoever took my money needed it more than I did.” Despite the mental strain, her three boys have been a source of comfort, reminding her that money may be made again. One of them comforted her that “no matter what happens, you still have us.”

Following the swindle, Jane used her sons' aid to reopen her bank accounts. She learned not to let fraudsters manage her emotions, which she now teaches others: “Don't let scammers control your emotions.” Once they have exploited you, they may simply attack.

This instance demonstrates the rising worry about official impersonation schemes. In 2024 alone, 1,504 examples of similar frauds were documented, with losses reaching at least $151.3 million. The victims, who ranged in age from 50 to 64, were frequently solicited via phone calls or messaging services such as WhatsApp. In November 2024, the police cautioned individuals about these frauds, advising them to be wary of scammers posing as ASC or ScamShield investigators.

ScamShield is an app that protects users from scam attempts by detecting and alerting them to potential risks on messaging networks. The Singapore Police Force has underlined that they will never request personal information over the phone or through messaging applications. Anyone who gets strange calls or messages is recommended to contact the police right away.

This instance serves as a lesson to be wary of scammers who utilize high-pressure techniques to defraud vulnerable persons. Individuals may defend themselves from such fraudulent schemes by remaining aware and careful.