Advertisement

Scammers Exposed

Investigating Asia-based scams targetting victims around the world - from call centre rackets, to phone scammers, to love swindlers

Interactive: Anatomy Of A Love Scam

Anatomy of a Love Scam

Anatomy of a love scam: The techniques scammers use to reel victims in | Interactive

Stay scam-savvy with DBS/POSB

Stay scam-savvy with DBS/POSB

This Chinese New Year, don’t make it easy for scammers to prosper

This Chinese New Year, don’t make it easy for scammers to prosper

04/02/2025

The high cost of easy cash

The high cost of easy cash

04/02/2025

Safeguarding customers’ savings, by thinking like a scammer

Safeguarding customers’ savings, by thinking like a scammer

04/02/2025

Behind the scenes of DBS’ anti-scam efforts

Behind the scenes of DBS’ anti-scam efforts

04/02/2025

4 things you can do to keep scammers at bay

4 things you can do to keep scammers at bay

04/02/2025

CYBER SCAMS

Aka: Data theft, malware, deepfakes

Ground zero: Across Asia

Cyber Scammed - Data Theft (Malaysia)

Cyber Scammed - Data Theft (Malaysia)

24/03/2024 45 mins

Cyber Scammed - Trojan Horses (China)

Cyber Scammed - Trojan Horses (China)

23/03/2024 45 mins

Cyber Scammed - Deepfakes (India)

Cyber Scammed - Deepfakes (India)

25/03/2024 46 mins

Talking Point 2023/2024 - Deepfakes Part 1 - How Real Are They?

Talking Point 2023/2024 - Deepfakes Part 1 - How Real Are They?

10/03/2024 23 mins

Talking Point 2023/2024 - Malware Scams Part 2: Who Is Behind Them?

Talking Point 2023/2024 - Malware Scams Part 2: Who Is Behind Them?

15/10/2023 22 mins

ANTI-SCAM TIPS

Talking Point 2022/2023 - How Dangerous Are Investment Scams?

Talking Point 2022/2023 - How Dangerous Are Investment Scams?

04/12/2022 24 mins

Talking Point 2023/2024 - Malware Scams Part 1: How Do They Work?

Talking Point 2023/2024 - Malware Scams Part 1: How Do They Work?

08/10/2023 23 mins

FAQ: How to avoid being scammed and what to do if you become a victim

FAQ: How to avoid being scammed and what to do if you become a victim

01/11/2023

Talking Point 2023/2024 - A scammer hijacked my phone: How to tell if you’ve got malware and what to do

A scammer hijacked my phone: How to tell if you’ve got malware and what to do

08/12/2023 4 mins

CNA Explains: How to spot the telltale signs of a deepfake

CNA Explains: How to spot the telltale signs of a deepfake

14/09/2024

Singapore launches 24-hour anti-scam hotline

30/09/2024

Google to pilot new Android anti-scam features in Singapore

16/10/2024

WHERE TO GET HELP OR REPORT A SCAM

Wherever you are: Contact the Global Anti-Scam Organisation or the Global Anti-Scam Alliance.

If you're in Singapore: Call the 24/7 ScamShield hotline at 1799 if you are unsure or suspect you’ve been scammed.

Download the ScamShield app to check for, block and report scams. Visit the ScamShield Website for information.

Subscribe to the ScamShield Alert channels on WhatsApp or Telegram for scam advisories.

If you have been scammed, file a Police Report. To provide information on a scam, call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or go to SPF | I-Witness.

Collapse

LOVE-INVESTMENT SCAMS

Aka: 'Pig butchering' scams

Targets: Mid- to high-income victims in the US, Europe, Asia

Ground zero: Cambodia, Myanmar

Victims' stories: Read & listen

‘He was just so real’: Why online scams are claiming victims among the educated and well-off

‘He was just so real’: Why online scams are claiming victims among the educated and well-off

24/11/2022

I thought I had a second chance at love. But I was being scammed

I thought I had a second chance at love. But I was being scammed

18/11/2022

I joined an investors’ chat group — and lost some US$70,000 in a scam

I joined an investors’ chat group — and lost some US$70,000 in a scam

18/11/2022

My hubby tried to help his client and lost $S1.2 million to a scam. I thought of leaving him

My hubby tried to help his client and lost $S1.2 million to a scam. I thought of leaving him

18/11/2022

They won over my kids and scammed me of S$40,000. Now I’m out to stop them

They won over my kids and scammed me of S$40,000. Now I’m out to stop them

18/11/2022

Scammers' stories: Read & listen

Inside the elaborate set-up of a scam HQ, staffed by people forced to scam

Inside the elaborate set-up of a scam HQ, staffed by people forced to scam

24/11/2022

I was kidnapped, tortured and trained to be a scammer. This is my story

I was kidnapped, tortured and trained to be a scammer. This is my story

18/11/2022

Listen: How a love scammer sweet-talks his victim, then tries to gaslight her

Listen: How a love scammer sweet-talks his victim, then tries to gaslight her

18/11/2022

IN FOCUS: When lucrative overseas job offers turn into nightmare scams for these Malaysians

IN FOCUS: When lucrative overseas job offers turn into nightmare scams for these Malaysians

14/12/2022

CNA Correspondent - S1E11: Tricked to death: How Southeast Asia’s online scams are linked to deadly human trafficking | EP 11

Tricked to death: How Southeast Asia’s online scams are linked to deadly human trafficking | EP 11

28/09/2022 17 mins

Watch

I fell for an investment scam: Here’s how they got me

I fell for an investment scam: Here’s how they got me

18/11/2022 13 mins

How I got scammed twice: Love scammers' tactics you need to know

How I got scammed twice: Love scammers' tactics you need to know

18/11/2022 7 mins

Talking Point 2022/2023: How to tell if you are being scammed: Love scammers' tactics exposed

How to tell if you are being scammed: Love scammers' tactics exposed

03/08/2022 13 mins

I was scammed of $77k - Here’s what you need to learn from my story

I was scammed of $77k - Here’s what you need to learn from my story

18/11/2022 6 mins

Victims of online scams recount how they were tricked by syndicates | Video

He died after being trafficked by a love scam syndicate

20/09/2022 4 mins

Asia's 'Tinder swindlers': Exposing love scam rings in Cambodia

01/06/2022 23 mins

I fell for a love scam: How they made it seem so real

18/11/2022 8 mins

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Been scammed or know someone's who's been through it? Share about it and help others avoid the pitfalls. Email us at cnainsider [at] mediacorp.com.sg.

Collapse

HUNTING THE PHONE SCAMMERS

Aka: IT call centre rackets & phone impersonation scams

Ground zero: India & Taiwan

When tech support is a scam: How India’s call-centre scams became big money

When tech support is a scam: How India’s call-centre scams became big money

21/11/2022

‘Suddenly there’s an expensive car’: In Taiwan, how scammers targeting Singapore were caught

‘Suddenly there’s an expensive car’: In Taiwan, how scammers targeting Singapore were caught

07/11/2022

Undercover Asia: Confessions of tech support scammers: How we justify what we do

Confessions of tech support scammers: How we justify what we do

18/11/2022 4 mins

Catching A Scammer - S1E1: Taiwan's Phone Syndicate

How they busted a Taiwan phone scam syndicate | Catching A Scammer

22/10/2022 48 mins

Undercover Asia - S9E8: Baiting The Scammers

Baiting the scammers: India's thriving scam tech support industry | Undercover Asia

24/07/2022 47 mins

THE INDIVIDUAL CONMAN

Aka: Serial swindlers, a spiritual scammer, and others

Ground zero: Singapore & Indonesia

Catching A Scammer - S1E2: Singapore's Serial Swindler

Singapore's own serial 'Tinder swindler' | Catching A Scammer

23/10/2022 46 mins

Catching A Scammer - S1E3: Indonesia’s Spiritual Conman

Exposing a spiritual conman in Indonesia | Catching A Scammer

24/10/2022 46 mins

'People are gullible to believe whatever’s told to them': Inside the mind of an ex-scammer

'People are gullible to believe whatever’s told to them': Inside the mind of an ex-scammer

11/06/2021

Deep Dive - I preyed on people's emotions: An ex-scammer on how e-commerce scams happen

I preyed on people's emotions: An ex-scammer on how e-commerce scams happen

05/08/2022 33 mins

Man arrested in China officials impersonation scam involving staged kidnap

Man arrested in China officials impersonation scam involving staged kidnap

14/12/2022

SCAMS IN THE NEWS

Commentary: A close call showed me that anyone can get scammed – even me

Commentary: A close call showed me that anyone can get scammed – even me

18/03/2025

MHA considering various proposals for returning scam proceeds to victims

MHA considering various proposals for returning scam proceeds to victims

17/03/2025

Commentary: Scam centres, human trafficking – Southeast Asian governments can do more for such victims

Commentary: Scam centres, human trafficking – Southeast Asian governments can do more for such victims

26/02/2025

Thailand cuts power to Myanmar border regions to fight scam centres

Thailand cuts power to Myanmar border regions to fight scam centres

05/02/2025

Hong Kong, mainland Chinese authorities ‘explore how to save students from scams’

Hong Kong, mainland Chinese authorities ‘explore how to save students from scams’

20/01/2025

Money Talks Podcast: The role of mediation when you have a dispute with a bank or insurer

The role of mediation when you have a dispute with a bank or insurer

16/01/2025

Hong Kong sends task force to Thailand amid rise in scam trafficking cases

Hong Kong sends task force to Thailand amid rise in scam trafficking cases

13/01/2025

Thai police say Chinese actor was trafficked to Myanmar to work in a scam operation

Thai police say Chinese actor was trafficked to Myanmar to work in a scam operation

08/01/2025

Missing Chinese actor found in Myanmar, Thai authorities say

Missing Chinese actor found in Myanmar, Thai authorities say

07/01/2025

Teenager who fell victim to impersonation scam arrested for cheating elderly woman

Teenager who fell victim to impersonation scam arrested for cheating elderly woman

07/01/2025

Singapore passes law that gives police powers to freeze bank accounts of scam victims

Singapore passes law that gives police powers to freeze bank accounts of scam victims

08/01/2025

Agencies sound alarm over domestic helpers falling prey to illegal money mule activities

Agencies sound alarm over domestic helpers falling prey to illegal money mule activities

27/12/2024