Police concerned over number of people falling prey to lottery scams - Singapore's Online Community

**sychai** · 04-11-2007, 04:41 PM

SINGAPORE : One Singaporean fell prey to lottery scam every day over the past month.

The police are concerned about the latest figures, which it called "staggering".

This year, some 210 victims have been cheated of over S$2 million. Police said the amount is already three times higher than the previous year.

Typically, fraudsters claiming to be a staff of an overseas company would call the victim on the pretext of conducting a survey or to invite the victim to an overseas event.

Subsequently, their accomplice would inform the victim that they had won a prize. But they had to pay a fee in order to claim it.

Police said one victim was cheated of $300,000.

Although the police had issued an advisory on such scams in August, the number of people falling prey to them remains a concern.

In all, the police have received 550 reports of lottery scams this year.

Police spokesperson ASP Lim Tung Li said: "The fraudsters change tactics regularly, and so such scams often take different forms. However, the common feature in all the cases is that the fraudsters would either ask for your bank account details or for some payment in advance, before the release of prize money.

"Legitimate lottery companies do not conduct themselves in this manner, and if anything sounds too good to be true, it probably is." - CNA /ls

**sychai** · 04-11-2007, 04:41 PM

SINGAPORE : There have been more reports of victims falling prey to money scams.

The latest figures from the police showed that 167 victims have been duped in the so-called "lottery scams".

Their losses range from as little as S$6 to as high as S$352,545.00.

The total amount involved so far has risen to over $1.8 million.

Meanwhile, there has been a report of a new scam - this time using the Singapore Red Cross's (SRC) name.

A member of the public received a call on October 3 from a Chinese lady about a US$230,000 prize money.

The caller was told that she had been selected to win from a charity draw which was conducted on September 13 in Kuala Lumpur.

But to receive the prize money, she had to transfer S$3,950 to a bank account in Hong Kong.

And part of the money will supposedly be given to the SRC.

But the SRC has clarified that it did not participate in such a fundraising activity.

It also did not authorise any company in Hong Kong to raise funds in Singapore.

The SRC also advised the member of the public to make a police report.

As in all fundraising efforts, the SRC has to apply for a license from the National Council of Social Services (NCSS) to conduct public street sales to raise funds for the society.

The license issued by the NCSS, signed and stamped with the official Red Cross logo, will also include the name of the fundraiser, purpose of collection, nature of event as well as the period of collection.

All fundraisers who participate in any fundraising activities must carry the license at all times for verification. - CNA /ls

By Gamar Abdul Aziz and Suzanne Ho, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 October 2007 0718 hrs

**sychai** · 04-11-2007, 04:42 PM

SINGAPORE: There has been a sharp rise in the number of people duped into parting with their money in the first three weeks of September.

According to the police, 122 people have fallen victim to what's called the 'lucky draw' scam.

In September alone, 68 people fell prey to these scams, compared to 23 cases in August and 31 in the first seven months of this year.

A total of more than S$1.5 million has been amassed by these fraudsters.

Mdm Li, a victim of the ‘lucky draw’ scam, said: "They employ mind games to test you. The more doubtful you sound, the more eager they are to prove they're not lying. They treat you like a friend."

All it took was a few calls from this so-called 'friend', for 30-year-old Mdm Li to hand over S$2,800 to a man claiming to be from Hong Kong.

She's one of many to have fallen victim to such scams and one victim was even cheated of some S$350,000.

There are several versions of the lottery or lucky draw scams. Fraudsters would call or text message (SMS) their victims, saying they had won cash prizes in overseas lucky draws entered on their behalf.

However, they would have to pay administrative or processing fees of several thousand dollars before they can claim their prize. Website addresses, login passwords and overseas phone numbers all help to make the set-up more convincing.

The fraudsters employ various tactics to lure their victims and one of them even claimed the lucky draws were conducted on a Channel NewsAsia programme.

"You think this is a scam? Mr Liu, didn't you watch Channel NewsAsia on 9 August? There was a live telecast. No wonder you'd think this way. It's impossible. Why would we cheat you? Aren't you thinking too much?" said a fraudster whose call was recorded by a MediaCorp viewer.

Some callers to the MediaCorp News hotline reported similar experiences, but Channel NewsAsia said its contests do not require viewers to provide details, like bank account numbers.

Police have advised the public to be wary because such scams often take different forms and they stressed that legitimate lottery companies never ask for up-front payments before winnings are released.

Members of the public can check with Channel NewsAsia by calling the main line at 63333-8888 or they can email to programming@channelnewsasia.com.

Police said any information on such scams should be directed to its Commercial Affairs Department. The public can call 1800-3250000 or head down to the CAD office at New Bridge Road or any police station. - CNA/vm

By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 04 October 2007 1911 hrs

**sychai** · 04-11-2007, 04:43 PM

Cheating case is keep increasing. think police cannot take it anymore liao..

**delight** · 04-11-2007, 11:43 PM

these cheats are very persistent. i received a call from a china lady once. she asked for my time to participate in some contest and wanted me to provide my details. The moment I say its not convenient to talk, she hung the call. Totally no courtesy at all. I later found out this is their scam to get people's details and subsequently call again to say they have won the contest.

**Voodoo Vince** · 05-11-2007, 02:01 AM

Lottery scams: At least 1 case a day

179 cases reported in last 2 months alone; victims told to pay 'admin fees' in order to receive prizes

IF IT sounds too good to be true, it probably is. It's an old saying but it has been getting a new lease of life here recently.

Gullible Singaporeans seem to be queuing up to fall victim to a lottery scam that has claimed more than $2 million this year. There has been about one victim a day over the past month and more than 210 so far this year.

The sharp increase in the number of victims has been startling. Up till August, only 31 people had been duped this year. But 91 people were conned in September - the last time police raised the alert - alone, with a spike of another 88 cases last month.

The scam centres on the premise that victims have won a pile of cash.

Conmen send text messages to mobile phones notifying people that they have won big in the lottery.

Victims are told to call an overseas number to claim their prize. They are then asked to make payments in advance to cover 'administrative' or 'processing' fees.

The fraudsters have another trick up their sleeves: calling victims on the pretext of conducting a survey or inviting them to an overseas event.

A few days later, the target is called again and told that he has won a cash prize through a lucky draw that was entered on his behalf.

He is asked to remit money to a local bank account, or one in China. Once the victims part with their cash, the swindlers disappear without a trace.

Marketing executive Jonathan Goh received a suspicious overseas call two weeks ago from a person with a strong Chinese accent asking him to take part in a survey.

Mr Goh, 25, hung up when the man failed to come up with a plausible reason for obtaining his phone number.

'It seemed dubious. Besides, I had heard about such scams so I told them to stop contacting me,' he said.

'People should ignore such senseless messages. How can you win and still need to pay?'

http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Sto...ry_173496.html

**Sonic Bear** · 05-11-2007, 02:59 AM

i had a few calls from china ladies, claiming they are based in hongkong now.
requesting me in doing a short survey or i had won a certain prize.
They even ask me to verify my address in singapore!!!
i immediately hang up the phone to avoid incuring the phone charges!!!

Do be careful of such calls!!!!

**Miss QQ** · 05-11-2007, 10:27 AM

Wow... More and more people are conned...

**Hitsujisaru** · 13-11-2007, 12:36 AM

Hey i think i also got this scam~ But i thought can play around with the person as long as i don't personally transfer the money over... But come to think of it, i did gave my bank acc no., name and ic no.~ How? can they still take out my money??

**jencrs** · 13-11-2007, 01:50 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Hitsujisaru
	Hey i think i also got this scam~ But i thought can play around with the person as long as i don't personally transfer the money over... But come to think of it, i did gave my bank acc no., name and ic no.~ How? can they still take out my money??

Nope. What you can do now is tell those people that you can't transfer the money over to them yet until they deposit money into your account first. hahha

**Hitsujisaru** · 13-11-2007, 11:38 AM

woo~ cool. Now i can set my mind at ease~ Thanks for the suggestion haha :biggrin4:

**id_peace** · 13-11-2007, 02:08 PM

I never pick up numbers that i dont know again.

JayDee · 13-11-2007, 03:40 PM

Lucky i don buy lottery xD

**sgalextoh** · 13-11-2007, 05:15 PM

In this case, I'll just tell the caller to transfer the ballance to me instead of me transfering the upfront money to them. Example if I won $1000 and I need to transfer $1 to them before I can get the $1k, I'll tell them to send a $999 cheaque instead. If they can't do it, I'll just argue what's the difference and wasting my time to transfer them the $1. And I'll tell them that I get such calls before (maybe have not) and the caller can deduct the upfront money from my winnings. Scare them and make them sound stupid. Scarely they really send you. Hahahaha.:biggrin4::biggrin4: