How To Spot Fake Shopee And Unionpay Communications Easily

Singapore, 28 February 2025: The Singapore Police Force and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) are urging the public to be cautious about scams involving individuals posing as employees from Shopee, UnionPay, and MAS. Since the beginning of January 2025, authorities have recorded 12 incidents, resulting in total financial losses exceeding S$1.4 million.

In this particular scam, victims receive unexpected phone calls from someone pretending to be a Shopee representative. The scammer claims that there are recurring fees related to an insurance policy the victim had signed up for on the Shopee platform. The victim is then transferred to another scammer, who falsely identifies as a UnionPay service agent. This person requests sensitive information, including bank account numbers and personal details, under the pretense of verifying the policy.

Victims are told that if they do not cancel the policy, the recurring charges will automatically be deducted from their linked bank accounts. To “cancel” the policy, the second scammer instructs the victim to send money to a designated bank account for “safe-keeping” using WhatsApp’s screen-sharing feature. Throughout this deceptive process, victims are falsely reassured that they will receive a refund once their policies are successfully canceled.

In some cases, victims found themselves dealing with a second fraudster who impersonated an officer from MAS. This individual would falsely assert that the victims’ bank accounts were implicated in money laundering activities and would pressure them to transfer money to a specified account to supposedly assist with the investigation. To add credibility to their claims, the scammer sent forged court documents, purportedly from MAS, via WhatsApp, aiming to convince the victims of the legitimacy of their demands.

It wasn’t until the victims could no longer get in touch with the scammers or when the promised refunds never appeared that they realized they had been deceived.

Both Shopee and UnionPay wish to remind all users that they will never ask for personal information or payments through unsolicited means such as phone calls, emails, WhatsApp messages, or SMS. Any such requests should be treated as fraudulent. Users are urged to promptly report any suspicious behavior using the following channels:

For Shopee, navigate to the Support Center, initiate a chat with Shopee, then explore Other Frequently Asked Questions under Account & Fraud. For UnionPay, visit the Help Center and call the Overseas Service Hotline for assistance in Singapore.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) wants to make it clear to everyone that they will never request money transfers or ask for any personal or banking details. In addition, we strongly encourage the public to avoid sharing their personal information, transferring funds, or permitting unfamiliar individuals to view their device screens. It’s essential to adopt the following safety measures.

Shopee and UnionPay also want to remind users that they will not reach out to them for personal data or payment information through unsolicited communications such as phone calls, emails, WhatsApp messages, or text messages. Any such attempts should be viewed as fraudulent. Users are advised to report any suspicious activities using these channels: for Shopee, visit the Support Center and navigate to Chat with Shopee, then select Other Frequently Asked and Account & Fraud; for UnionPay, head to the Help Center and use the Overseas Service Hotline, selecting Asia and then Singapore helpline.

We want to remind everyone to be cautious and refrain from sharing personal information, sending money, or allowing unknown individuals to access your device’s screen. It’s vital for the public to take certain precautions to protect themselves from scams.

First, consider downloading the ScamShield app, which is designed to help block and filter unwanted SMS messages. It’s also wise to set transaction limits that align with your regular expenses and to adjust your notification settings for transactions to ensure you are alerted to any unusual activity. If you notice anything suspicious in your bank account, contact your bank right away. Additionally, utilize your bank’s Money Lock feature to safeguard a portion of your funds, preventing any unauthorized digital transfers.

Next, always verify potential scams through official channels such as the ScamShield helpline at 1799. The ScamShield app can assist in confirming the authenticity of questionable messages, phone numbers, and website links. Remember to never share your banking details or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) with anyone.

Lastly, if you encounter any scams or suspect that you may have become a victim, it’s important to inform the relevant authorities as well as your family and friends. If you believe you’ve been scammed, reach out to your bank immediately to report the incident and block any unauthorized transactions, and don’t hesitate to file a police report.

For additional resources on scams, you can visit www.scamshield.gov.sg. Combating scams requires collective action, and together we can take steps to ACT Against Scams, ensuring a safer community for all.

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