They said in a statement on Wednesday that scammers have been sending messages with infographics urging recipients to claim their CDC or SG60 vouchers, according to AsiaOne.
These messages often come from social media accounts posing as official ones, such as Telegram channels named “CDC Vouchers” or “govh.sg” Instagram accounts.
The links in these messages usually direct victims to phishing sites that request personal information and National Registration Identity Card numbers.
In some cases, they may also ask for Telegram verification codes, which would let scammers hijack victims’ accounts and share phishing links with their contacts or add them to group chats promoting fraudulent investment schemes.
“You will never receive a request via phone call, social media or email to disclose personal credentials or bank log-in details to claim your SG60 vouchers or CDC vouchers,” the police warned, as quoted by Channel News Asia.
They noted that the official “gov.sg” accounts on Telegram and Instagram are used solely to share information. Genuine accounts can be identified by a blue verification tick next to their names, while fake ones will not have this mark.
Authorities will also not ask individuals to transfer money or download mobile apps from unofficial stores to claim vouchers or other cash benefits, they added.
The CDC voucher scheme was first introduced in 2020 to help households cope with daily expenses and to support local businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The latest round of vouchers, worth S$500 (US$387), was distributed in May and will remain valid until Dec. 31, 2025.
Meanwhile, the SG60 vouchers were rolled out in July to celebrate Singapore’s 60th year of independence. They can be used until Dec. 31, 2026, with citizens aged 21 to 59 receiving S$600 while those aged 60 and above getting S$800.
According to mid-year statistics cited by The Straits Times, Singapore recorded close to 20,000 scam cases resulting in losses of about S$456.4 million in the first half of this year.
Social media platforms were the most common channel scammers used to reach victims, accounting for 5,913 cases. About 15.1% of these involved contact through Instagram.
Messaging apps were another common avenue, with 4,670 cases reported, and Telegram made up 36.3% of those incidents.
