At least $156k lost to scams involving fake EZ-Link and SimplyGo ads on social media this month
The police received at least 97 reports of people being duped by fake EZ-Link and SimplyGo ads offering enticing promotions such as unlimited travel for $3 since March 1.
A total of at least $156,000 were lost to scams involving such ads on Facebook and Instagram.
The scam victims would click on links in the ads or posts and be redirected to a phishing website bearing the EZ-link or SimplyGo logos.
The victims would be prompted to key in their credit or debit card details and one-time passwords to purchase the EZ-Link cards.
In some cases, they would be first redirected to participate in online games or questionnaires to qualify them for the "promotion".
After successfully winning a "gift box" with a "free EZ-link" card, the website would prompt them to key in their card details to pay for the $3 unlimited travel promotion.
Victims would only realise that they had been scammed when they discover unauthorised transactions in their bank accounts. In some cases, the transactions were made in foreign currencies.
All promotions for EZ-Link cards are conducted only on SimplyGo's website and the social media pages of SimplyGo and EZ-Link.
SimplyGo does not offer a "$3 for unlimited travel" deals.
The Land Transport Authority, EZ-Link and SimplyGo had warned about such scams in November last year.
