Singaporean Businesses Targeted by Deceptive Orders

In a troubling trend, several businesses in Singapore are falling prey to a wave of fake bulk order scams. The latest victims include a popular Mediterranean restaurant, a fruit and vegetable vendor, and a bedding company—each duped by a fraudster impersonating staff from the Singapore Chinese Girls' School (SCGS).

Impersonation Tactics Unveiled

The scam saga began with local eatery HaPiHa, fruit vendor Nabayla, and bedding provider Simply Dreams receiving large orders from a scammer pretending to be an SCGS employee. A police report has since been filed by the school’s principal, Mrs. Linda Chan, who acknowledged the troubling impersonations.

Massive Orders Raised Red Flags

One of the victims, Ping, owner of Nabayla, recounted how a suspicious order for 180 boxes of grapes and 80 boxes of durians, totaling approximately S$4,080, raised concerns. The scammer, who insisted on communicating in Chinese, even provided a screenshot of the school’s address. Given her experience in handling corporate events, Ping noted that such sizable orders typically come with advance requests for quotations.

Urgency and Aggression: Classic Scam Techniques

The urgency displayed by the male imposter alarmed Ping, who usually communicates with her clients through emails or WhatsApp, not phone calls. When contacted again for a subsequent order of 40 mattresses—for a purported donation to an elderly home—Ping wisely declined, having not yet finalized the first order.

Alerting the Community: HaPiHa's Close Call

HaPiHa almost fell into the same trap after receiving a booking for a three-day event at S$70 to S$100 per person, only to be later asked to purchase a mattress. Thanks to prior warnings about similar scams, they wisely refused the order, narrowly avoiding potential losses.

Simply Dreams Connects the Dots

Similarly, Mr. Russell Koh from Simply Dreams received a call for 30 bedding sets, supposedly for teachers, and soon realized something was off when the imposter avoided standard purchasing procedures. A quick comparison of WhatsApp exchanges with HaPiHa revealed the scammer had used similar names and tactics across both incidents.

Crackdown on Scamming Syndicates

This wave of scams follows previous incidents targeting other local businesses including bakeries and florists, amounting to losses exceeding S$32,000. Authorities have arrested three suspects believed to be linked to a larger syndicate orchestrating these scams.

Critical Conversation: Business Awareness is Key

The Singapore Police Force has issued warnings about fake bulk order schemes, especially ones targeting schools and service-related sectors. Scammers often fabricate elaborate identities, enticing businesses into making deals that lead to significant financial loss. In response, experts urge local businesses to remain vigilant, emphasizing that awareness can prevent them from becoming the next target.

As the scams evolve, so must the vigilance of businesses—recognizing tell-tale signs may be the key to thwarting these criminal tactics.