Increase in Fake Bulk Order Scams Impersonating SAF Personnel and Measures to Protect Small Businesses

Mr Speaker, my reply will also address Question Nos 10 and 12 for written answer in today’s Order Paper filed by Mr Alex Yeo and Mr Zhulkarnain Adbul Rahim respectively.

From May 2025 to 15 September 2025, the Police received at least six reports of fake bulk order scams involving the impersonation of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel.

In these scams, scammers posing as SAF personnel would contact restaurants or other small businesses to make bulk orders. In some cases, nearer the delivery date, the scammers would request for additional items which the businesses do not carry or are unable to fulfil at short notice. The scammers would then provide the contact details of fake suppliers whom they claim can supply the additional items and persuade the victims to pay these fake suppliers on their behalf. The fake suppliers are part of the same scam syndicate and will deceive the victim into making payment, without delivering the actual items. Victims often only realise they have been scammed when the bulk order is not collected.

The Police take a tough stance against scammers and their mules, including those who allow their bank accounts to be used to receive the scam proceeds. They may face imprisonment terms of up to 10 years.

As of 19 September 2025, the Police have arrested six suspects in connection with these scams. Amongst them is a 22-year-old woman who was charged in court on 17 September for relinquishing control of her bank account to the scammers to facilitate the scams. Investigations against the other suspects are currently ongoing.

As much as the Police will take a firm stance against such cases and also do more in public education efforts, it is often not possible for the Police to protect all businesses and the public from all forms of scams and frauds. The criminals will also constantly devise new ways and approaches to hook and scam the victims.

In this case, we also seek the public's support, including businesses and merchants, to be discerning and vigilant.

To raise awareness of fake bulk order scams among small businesses, the Police have been sharing with industry stakeholders such as the Food and Beverage Management Association Singapore, Restaurant Association of Singapore and Orchard Road Business Association the telltale signs of scams and the preventive measures they should adopt. In particular, we urge businesses to try to verify the identity of the people they are transacting with, avoid making advance payments or deposits with new suppliers, and pay only upon the delivery of goods.

Please note also that Government agencies will not ask businesses to make payment to another business on the Government’s behalf, unless agreed through a written contract. If in doubt, please call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Can I ask whether the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is working with other agencies to develop verification tools or secure channels for our business owners to verify the authenticity of the orders, when orders are made?

Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. As mentioned in my reply, it is often not possible for the Police to fully protect the businesses and the public from all forms of fraud and scams. Businesses should verify their identities of the people they are transacting with. For example, if the person claims to be a Government official, who wishes to make a bulk order for an event, businesses can consider asking for the order to be sent via an official email address, always ending with "gov.sg".

If in doubt, businesses can approach the relevant Government agencies or its officers using the contact details found on the official Singapore Government Directory. Businesses should also check for reviews of suppliers to establish their legitimacy before committing to a purchase or pay only upon delivery of goods. If in doubt, businesses can also check the legitimacy of suspicious messages, phone numbers and website links via the ScamShield app or calling the helpline at 1799.

Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister of State for his answer to the Parliamentary Question. Can I just ask a supplementary question to the Minister of State? Apart from the investigations with regard to restaurants, have the Police made any headway in their investigations towards the even smaller food and beverage outlets, like the hawkers who had been scammed by these fake bulk orders? And if there is, can the Minister of State share more details about the intent of these perpetrators and who they are?

Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the question. In terms of whether the case comes from a restaurant, or it comes from a hawker centre, I think all these are fake bulk order scams and all the cases are currently under investigation. As and when we do have details and conclusions from the investigations, we will make them public, especially if it is in the public interest.

Perhaps the question is also about whether we have an increasing or growing fake bulk order scam situation in Singapore. Overall, this scam variant is not new. But since May 2025, the Police have seen a recent re-emergence of this kind of scams, in this case, including the impersonation of SAF personnel and teachers from academic institutions. Over the last four months, the Police have received at least 45 fake bulk order scam reports, which include six reports involving SAF personnel.