Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and often impersonate trusted organisations, including government agencies, banks and financial institutions, to deceive individuals into sharing personal information or transferring money.
Common scam tactics include impersonation scams, such as fake friend calls that create a sense of urgency and schemes involving individuals posing as representatives of educational institutions. Other prevalent methods include fraudulent e-commerce pre-orders and phishing scams that target online sellers through fake buyer profiles.
While scam cases have recently declined for the first time in eight years, scams continue to pose a significant threat in Singapore, with victims losing more than S$410.6 million in the first half of 2026 alone1 . Staying vigilant and recognising the warning signs remain key to protecting yourself from becoming a victim.
Spotlight Emerging Threats via WhatsApp2 and Insurance Services Scam3
Scammers are continually evolving their tactics. Recently, cybersecurity researchers uncovered a campaign targeting WhatsApp Desktop and WhatsApp Web users – including here in Singapore – in which compromised WhatsApp accounts were used to send malicious files disguised as invoices, payment records, and other routine documents. As these messages appear to come from trusted contacts, users may be more likely to open the attachments. Always verify unexpected attachments independently – even if they appear to come from someone you know – before downloading or opening anything.
Beyond emerging digital threats, insurance related scams also remain a concern. Despite increased awareness, insurance related scams continue to cause financial harm to many individuals. In 2025 alone, 1,003 cases were reported, with victims losing S$25.2 million to such schemes3 .
To stay protected, it is important to recognise red flags and adopt safe practices.
How Manulife is protecting you
At Manulife, we are also taking steps to strengthen the way we protect our customers online. As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance digital security, we have introduced a digital token in the Manulife SG app to authenticate logins and transactions more securely. Over time, this will help reduce reliance on email and SMS one-time passwords (OTPs), which are increasingly targeted by scammers, and provide customers with a safer way to access and manage their policies digitally.
Download ScamShield
ScamShield is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore Police Force, Open Government Products, and the National Crime Prevention Council.
The ScamShield app helps block scam calls, detect and filter suspicious SMS messages, and allows users to check calls, websites, messages (SMS, Telegram and WhatsApp) for potential scams, adding an extra layer of protection.
By staying informed and taking simple precautions, you can protect yourself from evolving scam tactics. For more guidance and updates, visit our website at https://www.manulife.com.sg/en/cybersecurity-advisory.html.
1Source:https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/over-410m-lost-to-scams-in-first-half-of-2026-8-in-10-victims-voluntarily-handed-money-to-scammers
2Source: https://www.kaspersky.com/about/press-releases/kaspersky-uncovers-a-new-massive-campaign-spreading-malware-via-whatsapp
3Source:https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/spore-scam-losses-fall-to-913m-in-2025-new-trend-of-victims-handing-over-gold-bars-to-syndicates
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We are committed to ensuring your security. Manulife Singapore will never request for your personal or financial credentials, such as passwords, one-time PINs (OTPs) or security codes, via phone or email. For more information on protecting yourself from cyber threats, please refer to https://www.manulife.com.sg/en/cybersecurity-advisory.html.
Manulife Singapore is firmly committed to respecting your privacy. Please read the Manulife Statement of Personal Data Protection for more information
