SINGAPORE — A sharp rise in reports in recent weeks related to phone scams, where callers impersonate OCBC Bank employees, has led the bank to issue an alert on Monday (July 18).
The number of calls from customers and the public about the scams jumped from 16 in April — when the bank first started receiving such reports — to 1,081 between July 1 and 17. In total, the bank has received more than 1,200 calls about the scams.
Highlighting the “evolving modus operandi” of the scams, the bank said in a statement that individuals usually receive an automated voice call prompting a response. While these calls used to impersonate courier companies, they now claim to be from banks as well.It is understood that no one has lost any money to date.
“The caller’s number is either a truncated six- to seven-digit number that looks like it is originating from outside Singapore, a private number (no caller ID shown), or in some cases, may even appear as OCBC Bank’s official contact number (+65 6363 3333) or some variation of it (eg 06563633333),” the bank said.
During the call, the individual would be transferred to a Mandarin-speaking person, who then asks for the individual’s detailed personal or banking information, such as identity card, account and credit card numbers.
OCBC stressed that it does not make automated voice calls and that English is the default form of communication unless customers ask otherwise.
While the bank may pose security questions to customers to verify their identity, it does not ask for sensitive banking data such as credit card details, PIN and account numbers, or the serial number of hardware tokens. It also does not ask customers to transfer money to other bank accounts.
Since April, OCBC has warned customers through social media and its website, and advised them to end calls if in doubt, and to call the bank at 1800 363 3333.
This OCBC alert is the latest in a series of phone-scam alerts by government bodies and retailers.
TODAYonline reported last week that a couple who were first-time parents, both aged 30, fell prey to a phone scam on July 2, and lost almost S$70,000 of their savings to callers who claimed to be police officers from Singapore and China.
Last Friday, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) revealed that it was investigating the case of a training organisation that offers vouchers to those who sign up for WDA courses and then makes a claim on the applicant’s SkillsFuture Credit (issued by WDA) by using SingPass, a password that Singapore residents have to transact with government agencies online.
Just three days before this, NTUC FairPrice warned of a scam where an online advertisement using the supermarket’s logo claims that those who do a Web survey would get a S$500 voucher. FairPrice did not create or endorse the ad and has made a police report.
Separately, the police said last Friday that three male suspects have been arrested in connection with a DHL parcel scam after a 65-year-old woman reported that she had transferred S$50,000 to them.
Parcel scams involving people posing as officials from the Manpower Ministry and Central Narcotics Bureau have also been emerging here, with the police revealing last month that residents here have lost more than S$4 million since March to these scammers, who operate through phone calls.
From March to June, more than 50 police reports have been lodged about people impersonating government officials.
Source: http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ocbc-raises-alert-over-spike-reports-phone-scams-impersonating-bank
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