Scammed by a fake loan or harassed by an Ah Long in S'pore? 7 steps to take today

Na-scam o naka-harass ng loan shark sa Singapore? Stop paying, call your bank, report today.

Speed decides how much money your bank can freeze. Call 999 if money is leaving your account now or someone threatens violence; call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799 for anything else.

Many "online lender" callers sit outside Singapore and use local-looking numbers. They count on shame to keep kababayans quiet.

Fake loans and loan sharks

A fake loan never pays out. The scammer takes a "processing fee", "insurance", "GST" or "deposit", or your bank login, then disappears.

An unlicensed moneylender, or Ah Long, does hand over cash, then charges crushing interest and harasses you when you fall behind.

Real lenders are banks or licensed moneylenders on the Ministry of Law's list. Licensed lenders deduct fees from the loan; they never collect them first.

Red flags

• Contact only through WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS or a random Facebook profile
• Any fee before the loan arrives
• Requests for Singpass, iBanking passwords or OTPs
• A photo of your FIN card plus a selfie holding it
• Approval "regardless of credit history or pass type"
• "Today only" pressure, or a "messenger" bringing cash to a void deck
• A screenshot instead of a signed contract
• "OFW loans" paid to your Philippine bank, salary-advance apps for helpers, or a recruiter who offers a loan to cover their own fee

If you already paid or shared details

1. Stop replying and stop paying. One more fee will not release any loan.
2. Call your bank's 24-hour fraud hotline. The number is on your card and the bank's website. Freeze the account in the app if you can.
3. Change your banking password and digital token. Reset Singpass at singpass.gov.sg if you shared it.
4. Delete any app they made you install, such as AnyDesk or TeamViewer. Factory-reset the phone if they had remote access.
5. Save evidence before you block. Keep chats, numbers, profile names, transfer slips, website links and any "contract". Back up one copy online.
6. File a police report. Use police e-Services or any Neighbourhood Police Centre, and report through ScamShield. Write down the amounts, receiving accounts and names they used.
7. Block every number on every app once the report is in.

A Work Permit, S Pass, EP or Dependant's Pass does not stop you from reporting a scam against you.

If a loan shark harasses you

Call the X-Ah Long hotline at 1800 924 5664, or 999 if someone comes to your door. Do not meet them, and do not offer instalments.

Borrowing from an unlicensed moneylender breaks work pass rules. MOM can revoke the pass, repatriate the worker and bar future employment, though employers can appeal case by case. Report the harassment anyway; paying only brings bigger demands.

Warn your employer, family or flatmates not to open the door to strangers. Keep CCTV footage. A court can issue a protection order under Singapore's anti-harassment law.

Lock your Facebook friends list and posts, set WhatsApp details to "My contacts", and make Instagram and TikTok private.

Recovery scams

A "lawyer", "investigator" or "recovery agent" often calls within days, offering to get your money back for a fee. It is usually the same network.

No police officer, embassy or real lawyer charges you upfront to recover scam money.

Do not borrow from family or another lender to settle a scammer's demand. For debt from a licensed lender that has grown out of hand, Credit Counselling Singapore gives free advice.

For domestic workers

Telling your employer is your call. If someone may turn up at the house, the employer needs to know for the door, the CCTV and the police.

A scammer cannot cancel your work permit; only MOM can. FAST and HOME can help you talk to your employer or move to a shelter. MOM's advisory on FDW borrowing sets out who helpers may borrow from.

Numbers to save

• Police emergency: 999
• Police Hotline: 1800 255 0000
• X-Ah Long hotline: 1800 924 5664
• ScamShield Helpline: 1799
• MOM helpline for domestic workers in distress: 1800 339 5505
• HOME domestic worker helpline: +65 9787 3122; migrant worker helpline: +65 6341 5535
• AWARE Women's Helpline: 1800 777 5555
• SOS 24-hour hotline: 1767
• FAST: fast.org.sg
• Philippine Embassy: philippine-embassy.org.sg; MWO Singapore: mwo-singapore.dmw.gov.ph

Read more: why you should install ScamShield, common money scams, budgeting on a Singapore salary, mental health help for Filipinas abroad, cheapest ways to send money home and the Lucky Plaza assault case explained.