In a worrisome turn of events, Singaporean travellers are being targeted by clever phishing scams impersonating the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The police issued a warning on 10 February 2024, urging the public to stay vigilant, especially when roaming in Malaysia.
How the Scam Works
Victims typically receive an SMS allegedly from the LTA after their phones connect to Malaysia’s telecommunications network. The message, sent from the now-decommissioned sender ID “LTA”, falsely claims the recipient has unpaid vehicle tolls.
- The SMS encourages recipients to click on a dubious link.
- This link directs them to a phishing site asking for bank card details.
- Many only realise they’ve been scammed when unauthorised transactions appear on their cards.
Recent Reports
Since late January, at least 10 cases have been reported, amounting to losses of at least S$24,000 (approximately US$19,000). This alarming trend has prompted authorities to remind the public of best practices in handling such messages.
What to Do
The police emphasize a few key precautions:
- Ignore any clickable links sent via SMS from LTA or others that seem suspicious.
- Official communications from the government will always come from the “gov.sg” sender ID.
- Block any sender IDs that seem decommissioned or illegitimate.
For additional safety, individuals are encouraged not to disclose sensitive banking information to anyone.
Helpful Resources
To check on outstanding payments or verify official communications, users can visit LTA’s One Motoring website. The public can also utilise the ScamShield app to help filter out scam messages and calls, or contact the 24/7 ScamShield helpline at 1799 for assistance.