Car owner mistakenly thinks Traffic Police hit-and-run letter is a scam
A car owner in Singapore recently received a letter from the Traffic Police (TP) regarding a possible hit-and-run accident involving his vehicle.
Images have been circulating on social media of the TP letter regarding an alleged hit-and-run incident that occurred at Geylang Bahru on Sept 14 at about 6pm.
The letter instructs the owner to identify the driver who was using the car at that specific date and time. It is an offence not to provide the driver's particulars, and the owner can be fined up to $1,000 or get six months' jail.
The letter also includes contact information for the investigation officer, including his email, phone number, and a WhatsApp number.
A screenshot of a social media post accompanying the letter reveals the owner's concerns about the letter being sent by who he believes to be a scammer.
According to him, the paper was of "poor quality" and the printing looked "cheap".
He also questioned why the police would ask him to contact him via WhatsApp and said it was a "first" for him.
He added that the URL given looked "fishy".
"These scammers are getting better -- they knew my home address, my car plate number, and even where I was at a certain time," he wrote. "That part really scared me."
However, checks by Stomp confirmed that the letter is authentic.
It is unclear if the original poster was joking or simply uninformed.
It is important to verify information before dismissing official communication as a scam.
The police advise members of the public to check for scam signs with official sources like the ScamShield WhatsApp bot at https://go.gov.sg/scamshield-bot.
Alternatively, you can call the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688 or visit www.scamalert.sg.
