At least $6.1m lost in seven months to scammers pretending to be officials from ICA, China
At least $6.1 million have been lost over about seven months to scammers posing as officials from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and from China. These losses stem from at least 72 cases reported since January, said the police in a statement on Aug 14, as …
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Scammers pose as ICA officials, claiming victims' details have been misused, then transfer calls to fake Chinese officials demanding money transfers or cash handovers. Police warn government agencies never ask for money or personal info over phone and advise verifying calls via ScamShield helpline 1799 before acting.
Imagine you get a call from someone claiming to be from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). They tell you that your details have been misused and that you need to transfer money to a bank account to fix the problem. But this is a scam! The ICA will never ask you to transfer money over the phone. If you're unsure, you can call the ScamShield helpline on 1799 to check if the call is legitimate.
Analysis
Scam Variants and Tactics
The scammers in this variant of the scam pose as ICA officials, claiming that the victims' details have been misused or that their phone numbers have been linked to criminal activities. This is a common tactic used by scammers to gain the trust of their victims. Once the victims deny such involvement, the calls are transferred to another scammer pretending to be an official from China. This fake official then demands that money be transferred to bank accounts to facilitate investigations, or to be used for bail. In some cases, victims may also be instructed to withdraw and hand over cash.
Police Warning and Advice
The police have warned the public to be vigilant and not to transfer or hand over money or valuables to unknown individuals whose identities have not been verified. They have also advised people not to install mobile apps from unofficial app stores over the phone. The police have also set up the ScamShield helpline on 1799 for people to verify calls and check if they are legitimate.
Rise in Government Official Impersonation Scams
The surge in government official impersonation scams is a cause for concern. According to annual police statistics, government official impersonation scams have been on the rise, with 3,363 reported cases resulting in losses totalling $242.9 million in 2025. This is compared with the 1,504 reported cases in 2024, and 893 cases in 2023. The financial losses in 2025 are second only to those of investment scams, which saw $336.2 million lost that same year.
Key points
- At least $6.1 million lost to fake official scams since January
- 72 cases reported since January, with scammers posing as ICA and Chinese officials
- Police warn government agencies never ask for money or personal info over phone
- ScamShield helpline 1799 set up to verify calls and check if they are legitimate
If the public remains vigilant and reports suspicious calls to the authorities, it is possible that the number of government official impersonation scams can be reduced. Additionally, the police's efforts to set up the ScamShield helpline and raise awareness about these scams may also help to prevent financial losses.
If the public does not take the necessary precautions to avoid these scams, the financial losses could continue to rise. Furthermore, the surge in government official impersonation scams may also lead to a decrease in trust in government agencies and institutions.
