Singapore police warned on 21 September that government-official impersonation scams involving fake Harvey Norman staff have cost victims at least S$4.8 million across 119 cases reported since January, with criminals escalating demands to cash withdrawals, gold bars and jewellery handovers.
In the pattern described, victims receive unsolicited calls from someone claiming to work for Harvey Norman about a television purchase or delivery they never made. When the victim denies the order, the caller alleges personal data misuse and hands the line to a second person posing as a MAS official investigating money laundering.
How the money leaves
Victims are told to move funds to a “safe account” or to withdraw cash, buy gold bars, or surrender valuables to unknown couriers for “investigation.” Refunds are promised once the fake probe ends; the contact then disappears.
SPF reiterated that Singapore government officials never ask for transfers to third-party accounts, never demand gold or valuables, and never keep victims on endless phone lines while they liquidate assets. MAS and Harvey Norman have issued separate reminders that their logos and names are being spoofed.
Links to wider enforcement
The advisory lands as the new Cyber Command wraps a two-week islandwide operation: 259 people are assisting investigations tied to more than 648 scam cases with about S$5.2 million in reported losses. Mandatory caning provisions now cover some syndicate recruiters and money mules, raising the stakes for people who pass SIM cards or Singpass credentials.
Courier-phishing sites — fake delivery pages harvesting banking details — are another front Cyber Command officers told CNA they fight with machine-learning takedown tools. The Harvey Norman variant is lower-tech but similarly relies on authority impersonation.
What residents should do
Hang up and call back on official numbers listed on agency websites, not numbers the caller provides. Use the ScamShield helpline at 1799 when unsure. Tell family members who still pick up landlines that big-box retail names are now bait as commonly as bank SMSes.
Loss figures will climb if victims feel embarrassed about gold handovers; reporting early still helps banks and police trace mule accounts before proceeds move offshore.
Bank and retailer responses
Banks have tightened outbound call verification after a string of impersonation cases, but scammers simply pivot to WhatsApp voice notes or in-person couriers. Harvey Norman’s public statements remind shoppers that delivery teams do not demand bank transfers over the phone.
Jewellery shops report occasional walk-ins trying to buy large gold quantities on instruction from “officers”; staff trained on anti-money-laundering rules sometimes flag those transactions, but not every outlet asks questions when payment is in cash.
Community reporting
Grassroots organisations and RCs have distributed ScamShield posters in lift lobbies; the weak link remains older adults who answer unknown numbers out of habit. Family chats should include a shared script: hang up, call the relative back on their usual mobile, confirm whether they initiated any purchase.