Fear of the law makes victims cough up cash
Posted: 19 October 2007 1100 hrs
SINGAPORE: First, they used their victims' greed and the lure of fictitious lottery winnings to con money from them. Now, phone scam artists have found a new tack: Exploiting their prey's fear of the law.
Over the past three weeks, Singapore police have received 35 reports from people who got calls from persons posing as police officers or Supreme Court staff.
The impersonators would tell them to attend court or ask for money to be transferred. They would try to get their victims to part with money in exchange for being exonerated from involvement in criminal cases or the failure to attend court hearings.
In reality, none of the victims were involved in any such criminal or court proceedings - but even so, worry led at least one victim to part with about S$10,000.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the police said that investigators do sometimes inform members of the public over the phone about court dates and appointments at the police station.
"However, police will never ask for money to be deposited into a bank account. If such requests for property deposits or personal information disclosure are received, they should be reported to the police immediately," said the police.
Likewise, the Supreme Court, in a separate email to the media, said its staff members do not ask for payment verbally over the phone.
"Any request for payment of monies to third parties in respect of court proceedings should be made only if supported by an official court order," the court said.
Anyone who do not have a pending case in the Supreme Court should "exercise caution" with callers who identify themselves as court staff, and who direct them to attend court or transfer money, said the email. In case of doubt, verify the source of the call with the Supreme Court at 1800-338-1034.
More generally, phone scams can take different forms and the public should be wary, said the police, advising the public to check the caller's identity with the organisation he or she claims to be from.
Last month, it was reported that 122 people had been deceived to the tune of S$1.5 million in total, in lottery or lucky draw scams so far this year. They were instructed to hand over money after receiving phone calls or SMSes claiming that they had won prizes in overseas lucky draws. - TODAY/ym
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/306555/1/.html
Posted: 19 October 2007 1100 hrs
SINGAPORE: First, they used their victims' greed and the lure of fictitious lottery winnings to con money from them. Now, phone scam artists have found a new tack: Exploiting their prey's fear of the law.
Over the past three weeks, Singapore police have received 35 reports from people who got calls from persons posing as police officers or Supreme Court staff.
The impersonators would tell them to attend court or ask for money to be transferred. They would try to get their victims to part with money in exchange for being exonerated from involvement in criminal cases or the failure to attend court hearings.
In reality, none of the victims were involved in any such criminal or court proceedings - but even so, worry led at least one victim to part with about S$10,000.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the police said that investigators do sometimes inform members of the public over the phone about court dates and appointments at the police station.
"However, police will never ask for money to be deposited into a bank account. If such requests for property deposits or personal information disclosure are received, they should be reported to the police immediately," said the police.
Likewise, the Supreme Court, in a separate email to the media, said its staff members do not ask for payment verbally over the phone.
"Any request for payment of monies to third parties in respect of court proceedings should be made only if supported by an official court order," the court said.
Anyone who do not have a pending case in the Supreme Court should "exercise caution" with callers who identify themselves as court staff, and who direct them to attend court or transfer money, said the email. In case of doubt, verify the source of the call with the Supreme Court at 1800-338-1034.
More generally, phone scams can take different forms and the public should be wary, said the police, advising the public to check the caller's identity with the organisation he or she claims to be from.
Last month, it was reported that 122 people had been deceived to the tune of S$1.5 million in total, in lottery or lucky draw scams so far this year. They were instructed to hand over money after receiving phone calls or SMSes claiming that they had won prizes in overseas lucky draws. - TODAY/ym
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/306555/1/.html
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