Government Officials Impersonation Scams

Beware of impersonation scams. Learn how it works and spot the red flags to protect yourself.

Last updated on 2 November 2026

Key takeaways

Government officials will never ask you to transfer money over a phone call.
If you received an SMS from the government, make sure it is sent from the gov.sg SMS Sender ID.

Annual Scams and Cybercrime Brief 2025

Unsolicited contact
Victims would receive unsolicited phone calls or in-app calls (e.g. WhatsApp video call) allegedly from government agencies such as the Singapore Police Force (SPF) or the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
False claims
The scammers would accuse the victims of being involved in criminal activities.
Request for personal details
Victims would then be instructed by the scammers to transfer money into a "safe account" to assist with "investigations".

Scammers may also request victims to hand over money, gold/luxury watches or other valuables via meet-ups, claiming to be officers collecting items for investigation purposes.
In some cases, victims may be instructed to show their identity cards, work permit or their bank cards when speaking to the “SPF” or “MOM” officer over the in-app video call. The victims would only discover that they had been scammed when they realised that there were unauthorised transactions made from their bank accounts.

Government officials will NEVER do these things over a phone call:

Additional Advisories

If you receive an SMS from the government, make sure it is sent from the gov.sg (opens in new tab)SMS Sender ID*.
*Exceptions apply for National Service calls-ups and emergency services. Read more about the exceptions (opens in new tab)
Scammers may cite your personal information (e.g. name or NRIC number) to appear legitimate. Do not automatically trust someone just because he/she has your personal information. Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 to check if you are unsure if something is a scam.
Overseas law enforcement agencies have no legal powers to require members of the public in Singapore to assist in their investigations without the approval of the Singapore government.

Singapore Police Force launches single caller ID to help the public recognise official Police calls and guard against impersonation scams.

SPF officers will NEVER ask you to do the following over the phone or through text message:

Transfer money to the Police, bank accounts, or mobile numbers linked to bank accounts;
Request for your banking, SingPass and/or CPF related information;
Click on links that lead to bank websites;
Install apps outside of official app stores.

With someone you trust about the situation.
Call the ScamShield Helpline (1799) to check if you are unsure.
Never disclose your personal information (including SingPass and CPF-related), internet banking and social media account details, and one-time passwords (OTPs) to anyone.
From 1 July 2024, all SMSes from government agencies will use a single gov.sg (opens in new tab) SMS Sender ID. Every text message will begin with the full name of the agency that sent it and end with a note stating that it is an automated message sent by the Singapore Government.

Warn friends and family about this scam encounter.
Report and block suspected scam accounts/chat groups.
Call your bank immediately and make a police report if you think you have fallen victim.

If you have transferred money to a scammer, please visit this page for a list of immediate actions: I've Been Scammed!

Help keep the community safe by reporting any instances of this scam you’ve seen or experienced with the ScamShield App.