26-05-2025
Over 180 ‘fake friend' scam cases in Singapore since April, S$653,000 lost
SINGAPORE: At least 187 cases of 'fake friend' scams have been reported in Singapore since April, with victims losing a total of at least S$653,000, police said in a press statement on 26 May.
Authorities said there has been a resurgence of this scam type in recent months.
According to the police, victims typically receive unsolicited WhatsApp messages or phone calls from local mobile numbers.
The scammers claim to be a friend, asking the victim to guess their identity.
Once a name is suggested, the scammer adopts the identity of that known contact and requests that the victim update their contact details.
After establishing trust, the scammer would ask for a loan or help with a banking transaction. Victims are then instructed to transfer money via a local bank account, PayNow number, or QR code.
Many victims only realise they have been scammed after contacting the actual friend whom the scammer impersonated — or when the supposed loan is not returned.
The police are advising the public to be cautious of anyone who contacts them from an unfamiliar number requesting urgent financial assistance.
They stress that such requests should only be entertained if the person's identity can be verified.
'Fake friend' scams were among the top five scam types in Singapore, with 4,179 cases reported in 2024, according to the police's Annual Scams and Cybercrime Brief.
While the numbers remain high, the report noted a 39.1 per cent decrease from the 6,859 cases recorded in 2023.
Correspondingly, total losses fell by 41.1 per cent, from at least $23.1 million in 2023 to at least $13.6 million in 2024.
Despite the decline, police said the scam type remains prevalent—particularly among older adults. Most victims in 2024 were aged between 50 and 64.
For more information on scams, the public can visit or call the 24/7 ScamShield hotline at 1799.
Anyone with information on such scams may contact the police at 1800-255-0000 or submit it online at
