MINDEF warns of allegedly fraudulent bulk orders made by individuals claiming to be SAF personnel

OTHER FAKE BULK ORDER SCAMS

Police said on Jul 28 that there were cases of fake bulk order scams targeting the renovation, F&B, retail and service industries. 

At least five cases were reported from May to July, with total losses amounting to at least S$52,000, read the news release.

For that scam variant, scammers would pose as teachers or staff from academic institutions in Singapore. 

They would contact renovation firms, restaurants, retailers, or service-related businesses via phone call or WhatsApp message, pretending to be customers making bulk orders or to make reservations.

The scammers would request additional items, specific brands of items that the targeted businesses do not carry, or order quantities that the businesses are unable to fulfil on short notice. 

They would then recommend another scammer impersonating as a “supplier” to the victims. 

The “customer” may provide fake payment documentation, such as screenshots, to convince the victims that they had made a partial payment of the bulk order in advance. 

This tactic is used to persuade the victims to provide payment for the orders placed with the “supplier”. 

Victims would only realise they have been scammed when they did not receive any payment from the “customer”, when the “supplier” fails to deliver the goods, or when both the “customer” and the “supplier” become uncontactable.