Police Advisory On Fake Bulk Order Scams Targeting The Renovation, F&B, Retail And Service Industries

The Police would like to alert members of the public on the re-emergence of a fake bulk order scam variant. Recent cases saw the F&B and service industries being targeted. Since April 2024, at least 427 cases were reported, with total losses amounting to at least $6.8 million.

In this scam variant, scammers would typically pose as teachers from academic institutions in Singapore and contact restaurants, retailers, or service-related businesses via call or WhatsApp message, under the pretext of making bulk orders or to make reservations. Scammers would typically request for additional items; or specific brand of items that the businesses typically do not stock, or in quantities that the retailers are unable to fulfil on short notice. The purported customer would then recommend a "supplier" for the victims to purchase from.

Scammers may provide screenshots of fake payment documentation to assure the victims that they had made part-payment of the bulk order in advance, which convinced the victims to make upfront payment for the orders placed with the "supplier". Victims would only realise that they had been scammed when they did not receive any payment from the "customer", or when the "supplier" did not deliver the goods, or when both "customer" and "supplier" become uncontactable.

The Police would like to advise businesses to also adopt the following precautionary measures to avoid falling for scams:

1. ADD - A mandatory step in your business processes to independently verify the identity of the party that you are corresponding with. Avoid making payments or deposits in advance to new suppliers. Arrange to meet the supplier and pay only upon delivery of the goods.
   
   
2. CHECK - For scam signs with official sources. For reviews of suppliers to establish their legitimacy before committing to a purchase.
   
   
3. TELL - Tell the authorities, family, and friends about scams. Report the scammers to WhatsApp, or the respective messaging app.

If you have any information relating to such crimes or if you are in doubt, please call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000, or submit it online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential. If you require urgent Police assistance, please dial '999'.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688. Fighting scams is a community effort. Together, we can ACT Against Scams to safeguard our community!