SINGAPORE: More than S$1 million has been lost to Johor-Singapore housing subsidy scams since September, with at least 21 reported cases.
The police said in a statement on Friday (Nov 14) that advertisements about the supposed initiative falsely claim a collaboration between the Singapore and Johor governments to provide subsidised housing.
The housing subsidy initiative does not exist, said the police.
Victims would encounter the ads about “JBSG Housing Subsidy Program” or “Free Homes Across the Causeway” on online platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
Some of the ads included documents with forged signatures purportedly from the prime ministers of Singapore and Malaysia, said the police.
The ads would contain links for victims to submit applications. These links would direct victims to WhatsApp to communicate with the scammers.
Victims would then be asked to enter their personal information, such as NRIC number, residential address and e-mail address, through suspicious links.
They would also be asked to transfer money online for purported “legal and stamp duties”, or to physically hand over cash to unknown individuals.
The police advise members of the public not to disclose any personal information or give money and other valuables to people whose identities they have not verified.
In the first half of 2025, close to half a billion dollars was lost to scams, with almost 20,000 cases reported in Singapore.
In 79 per cent of the cases, scammers did not gain control of the victims’ accounts but manipulated the victims into transferring money. - The Straits Times/ANN
