SINGAPORE - At least 60 victims have fallen prey to a scam targeting businesses in the renovation, food and beverage, retail and service industries, with at least $831,000 lost since April 12.
Conversation between a scammer, posing as a customer of renovation contractor, and victim.
These scammers call or text the businesses via WhatsApp under the pretext of making bulk orders or reservations, and would typically request for additional items, or an item from a brand that the businesses do not stock, or quantities that retailers are unable to fulfil on short notice.The police said in some cases, scammers would pretend to be Singapore teachers looking for contractors for painting or plumbing jobs, to buy items like bicycles or tyres, or to engage photography services.
Victims realised that they had been scammed only 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.
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