Singapore - A 67-year-old woman, identified only as Grace, has fallen victim to a sophisticated police impersonation scam, losing a staggering S$1.1 million.
Grace, who held a press conference to share her ordeal, revealed that she had been targeted by scammers who convinced her she was involved in a major money laundering case. Fearing legal repercussions, she transferred a substantial sum of money to accounts provided by the scammers, believing them to be genuine police officers.
“I thought they were real police officers,” Grace said, adding that she didn’t want to know how much money she had lost. The incident has left her deeply traumatized, and she has chosen not to inform her family.
Singaporean police have warned of a surge in such scams, with over 1,100 cases reported and losses exceeding S$120 million from January to October alone. Authorities are taking stringent measures to combat this growing threat, including a proposed law that would allow them to impose restrictions on bank transactions to prevent potential victims from transferring funds.
The proposed legislation would empower the police to issue restriction orders to banks, which could last up to six months. This would provide authorities with a more effective tool to thwart scammers and protect vulnerable individuals.
Grace has expressed her support for these measures, stating, “At least I didn’t lose more money.”
Singaporean police have urged the public to be vigilant against scam calls and to report any suspicious activities immediately.
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