The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said a phone scam built around false SIMBA purchase claims caused at least S$1.3 million in losses across 59 cases reported in October 2026. The advisory was issued Oct. 29.
Callers told people they had bought an iPhone or signed up for a SIMBA mobile plan or package. If the person denied it, another caller claiming to work for SIMBA said their details had been misused. The call then moved to someone pretending to be a police officer or Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) official, who directed the person to send money or hand over cash and valuables for a supposed investigation.
Police cited one case in which a victim sent S$285,000 to bank accounts described as unknown, following the callers’ instructions. ScamShield’s Oct. 27 alert said government officials would not request money or valuables during a phone call.
The SPF urged people to check unexpected claims with the named organization using official contact channels. Anyone who suspects fraud should contact their bank immediately and file a police report.
The phone scam is separate from phishing involving fake SIMBA websites. Police reported at least 62 cases and losses of at least S$83,000 since March 2026. EconoTimes previously covered the fake SIMBA sites appearing in search results.
