Getting Help in Singapore | How to Report a Scam

If you have been scammed in Singapore or think someone has accessed your bank account, contact your bank immediately. Ask about stopping transactions, blocking access or activating the bank’s emergency security controls. Then file a police report, secure any affected accounts and keep evidence. The official ScamShield guide for scam victims sets out these steps. Acting quickly may reduce additional losses, although money recovery cannot be guaranteed.

If you are uncertain whether a call, message or offer is a scam, Singapore’s ScamShield Helpline is 1799 and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It can help you check suspicious situations and guide you to your bank; 1799 does not file police reports. If you face an immediate physical threat, use the Police emergency number 999.

In short, follow this order:

Money or bank details exposed: contact your bank’s fraud or anti-scam channel immediately; ask about emergency blocks or the bank’s “kill switch”.
Scam already happened: make a Singapore Police report online or at a police facility; preserve messages and transaction records.
Email, social or other account hacked: secure the account, change passwords from a trusted device and activate multi-factor authentication.
Unsure whether a message is fake: call 1799, using the number on the official ScamShield or Police website.
Scammer contacts you again: do not pay a “recovery fee”, share OTPs or follow instructions to move money into a supposed safe account.

What to Do Immediately After Being Scammed in Singapore

When a scam has occurred, time matters more than embarrassment. A victim may be tempted to negotiate with the scammer, search the internet for a miracle recovery service or wait to see whether the payment is reversed. That delay can give criminals additional opportunities.

Use a practical sequence: stop further access, alert the bank, contact the Police, preserve evidence, secure digital accounts, and tell relevant platforms or people who may be affected.

It is useful to distinguish between receiving a suspicious message, having shared information, and having actually lost money. Each situation calls for a different response. The first goal is to keep the problem from growing.

This guide is a step-by-step response for people seeking help. For an explanation of Singapore’s anti-scam infrastructure, read How Singapore Works | ScamShield, 1799 and the Defence Against Scams.

Step 1: Call Your Bank Before Doing Anything Else

If your bank account, card, banking password or payment credentials may have been compromised, call the bank through a verified contact channel. Use the number on the back of your card, the bank’s official app or the official ScamShield list of bank anti-scam hotlines.

Explain what happened, when it happened, which transactions you recognise and which you do not, and whether the scammer may still have access. Ask which emergency controls should be activated and how to document the incident.

Do not use a bank number sent to you by the suspected scammer. A fraudulent message can show a convincing logo, account name, staff photograph or reference number. Independently verify the destination.

What is a bank “kill switch”?

Several banks offer emergency controls intended to suspend access or limit further losses where fraud is suspected. The exact features and activation methods differ between banks.

If you cannot log in safely, ask the bank’s fraud team what to do. If you can access your account, follow the bank’s instructions rather than a general internet checklist. Take the security action the bank recommends, including blocking or replacing a card where appropriate.

What if the money has already gone?

Report it anyway. Prompt reporting may help prevent further activity and assist investigation. However, recovery depends on the circumstances and where the money has moved. ScamShield warns that money routed rapidly through multiple accounts or overseas can be difficult to recover.

Never interpret “report immediately” as a promise that the funds will return. The immediate objective is to reduce further harm and create a reliable record.

Step 2: File a Police Report

Once urgent banking actions are underway, file a Police report. Singapore Police reports can be made through the official online process or in person at a Neighbourhood Police Centre or Post, as appropriate.

Start from the ScamShield page for people who have been scammed to reach the official reporting channel. You can also use the Singapore Police Force website. For an immediate emergency requiring Police assistance, call 999.

What details should you include?

The date and approximate time of each relevant contact or transfer.
The platform or channel used: SMS, WhatsApp, telephone, email, marketplace or website.
The scammer’s known phone numbers, account details, handles, websites or displayed names.
The amount, payment method, transaction time and bank references.
Screenshots of messages, advertisements, receipts, listings and emails.
What you were asked to do, what you did, and whether any passwords or codes were disclosed.
What you have already reported to the bank, platforms and other affected providers.

The official ScamShield reporting checklist explains what evidence is useful. You do not have to write a perfect account from memory; organise what you know and be honest about uncertainty.

A Police report is different from submitting a suspicious message to ScamShield. You may do both, but do not assume one automatically completes the other.

Step 3: Secure Accounts and Devices

Scammers may want more than the first transfer. They may attempt to reuse a password, access an email inbox, hijack a messaging account or persuade friends and relatives to pay money.

If you suspect an account has been compromised, use a device you believe is secure and follow the service provider’s official recovery procedure. Change affected passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, check for unrecognised linked devices and review recent activity.

The ScamShield account-protection guide explains strong passphrases, two-factor authentication and connected-device checks.

If you shared an OTP

Tell the bank or service provider involved as soon as possible. An OTP may have authorised a login, transaction or change of account controls; the urgency depends on which service issued it.

Do not send further OTPs to anyone claiming to be investigating the first incident. Use the organisation’s published official contact routes.

If you installed an unfamiliar application

Do not continue banking normally on a device you suspect is compromised. Contact your bank through a separate trusted channel, follow the official scam or service-provider instructions, and seek specialist device support where necessary.

Avoid guessing which single uninstallation step will fix the problem. A malicious application may have multiple permissions or effects, and remediation depends on the device and compromise.

If a social account is being used to impersonate you

Tell trusted contacts through another channel not to respond to unusual payment requests. Report the compromised account to the platform and use its official recovery tools.

A short warning is enough: “My account may be compromised. Please do not send money or codes based on messages from it until I confirm directly.”

Step 4: Preserve Evidence Without Re-engaging the Scammer

Keep transaction references, screenshots and original messages when safe to do so. A clear sequence helps the bank and Police understand what occurred.

Create a simple timeline:

First contact: when, where and by whom.
Claim made: job, investment, bank, government authority, parcel, friend or online seller.
Request: transfer money, scan a QR code, open a link, install an application or provide information.
Your action: what you sent or installed, and when.
Discovery: why you suspected fraud and when you realised it.
Response: bank call, account controls, Police report and platform notifications.

Do not delay urgent banking action just to make the timeline look complete. An imperfect report made quickly can be more useful than a polished record created after additional losses.

Avoid publishing your full NRIC number, private bank details or identifying correspondence publicly. Give relevant evidence through secure official channels.

What Does ScamShield 1799 Actually Do?

1799 is the official ScamShield Helpline for scam-related enquiries and is available 24/7. It can help when you are unsure about a suspicious interaction, need advice about scam protection or need routing to a participating bank following a scam.

The official ScamShield page makes clear that the helpline cannot make a Police report for you and is not a general hotline for unrelated disputes. It also does not replace a bank’s emergency fraud response.

Use the official 1799 guidance to check the current scope of the service.

When should you call 1799?

A person who has not paid anything but has received a suspicious “bank verification” link may call 1799 to check. A person who has just transferred money should prioritise contacting their bank immediately and reporting the matter rather than waiting for a general explanation.

The division of responsibility is simple: 1799 offers advice and routing; your bank protects the account; the Police receive crime reports.

Different Scam Situations, Different Priorities

A bank impersonation scam

A caller says your account is at risk and instructs you to transfer funds or provide a password. Stop engaging, use the bank’s verified contact details and check the actual status of your account. If you sent money or exposed credentials, report urgently.

An online shopping scam

A seller takes payment but does not deliver and the listing disappears. Preserve the listing, messages, payment records and seller information. Report to the marketplace administrator and make an appropriate Police report.

Not every delayed delivery is fraud. The facts matter; avoid making unsupported claims about a seller’s intentions.

A job or task scam

Someone promises income for simple online tasks, then demands a deposit to unlock work or withdraw earnings. Stop sending funds. Save payment requests and messages. If money was lost, contact the bank and report to Police.

A fake government or authority message

Someone claims to be from an agency and asks for credentials or an urgent transfer. Independently locate the agency’s official contact information and verify. Do not rely on caller ID or a government-looking website supplied by the caller.

A romance or friendship scam

An apparently trusted relationship leads to urgent requests for money or investment. Record the facts without shaming the person deceived. Stop further transfers and seek bank, Police and emotional support where needed.

An investment or cryptocurrency scam

An online platform shows apparent profits but will not allow withdrawals unless more money is paid. Do not pay additional “unlock”, “tax”, “verification” or “recovery” charges merely because the platform demands them. Preserve transaction records and contact relevant authorities and financial institutions.

Beware the Second Scam: Fake Recovery Services

After a scam, another person may claim they can recover lost money for an advance fee or remote access to your device. This is especially dangerous because the victim wants the situation resolved.

A private individual cannot guarantee recovery. Do not hand over passwords, OTPs, identity documents or banking access because someone claims to be a “recovery investigator”.

Use trusted bank and Police channels to verify any claim. A secret expedited route in exchange for payment is a warning sign, not reassurance.

How to Help a Family Member Who Has Been Scammed

Shame may make people conceal losses or continue paying the scammer in the hope of recovering previous money. A calm approach is more useful than asking why they did not notice the warning signs.

Begin with immediate questions: Is the scammer still contacting you? Have you sent more money? Which accounts may be exposed? Have you called the bank? Do you need help making a Police report?

Help the person document events. Avoid taking over devices or passwords without consent. If an older relative or young person is affected, support them in understanding the next step and protecting themselves against further contact.

A scam can also produce significant emotional distress. For emotional support, Singapore’s national mindline 1771 provides a first-stop mental health support service.

A Practical First-Day Checklist

This is a priority sequence, not a guarantee that any investigation will finish within a day:

Contact the bank and activate appropriate emergency protections.
Make a Police report after urgent financial safeguards are underway.
Preserve key evidence and record a basic timeline.
Secure affected email, banking, messaging and other accounts.
Warn relevant contacts or platform operators about compromised accounts or listings.
Keep bank and Police reference details in one secure place.
Ignore recovery-fee demands and unexpected follow-up callers.

If overwhelmed, ask someone trusted to stay with you while you contact the bank and Police. The first goal is stopping further harm, not investigating the criminals yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What number should I call to report a scam in Singapore?

If bank money or banking details are at risk, contact your bank immediately. For scam advice, call ScamShield 1799. For a formal crime report, use Singapore Police reporting channels. If there is an immediate danger requiring Police, call 999.

Can ScamShield file a Police report for me?

No. ScamShield states that 1799 cannot make Police reports. Report through Singapore Police channels.

Will I get my money back?

There is no guarantee. Prompt reporting matters, but recovery depends on the transactions, money flow and investigation. Beware anyone promising certain recovery for a fee.

Should I delete the scammer’s messages?

Preserve relevant evidence safely before blocking or reporting, where possible. Do not continue engaging with the scammer merely to obtain more evidence.

I clicked a suspicious link but entered nothing. What now?

Stop interacting with the page. Check whether anything was downloaded or information was shared. If an account or device may be compromised, secure it using official guidance. Call 1799 for scam-related advice.

I shared banking information but have not lost money. Should I still call the bank?

Yes. Exposed credentials or payment details may create continuing risk. Let the bank assess protections before a loss occurs.

Where can I find the correct bank fraud number?

Use the bank’s official website or app, or the ScamShield anti-scam hotline directory. Avoid numbers inside suspicious messages.

Your Next Useful Action

If you have already transferred money or disclosed bank details, contact the bank now. Then file an appropriate Police report, secure accounts and retain evidence. If you have only received a suspicious approach and need help identifying it, call 1799.

The reason for the order is simple: prevent the next loss before trying to understand the entire scam.

Official Sources and Further Reading

Information checked: 2 November 2026. This independent guide is not a bank, Police reporting service or investigative agency. Official contact arrangements and bank controls may change; verify them directly.

Getting Help in Singapore | Report a Scam and Protect Your Money