SINGAPORE, Sept 21 — Singapore police are warning the public about a re-emerging phishing scam that uses the Singapore Police Force (SPF) logo to frighten victims into handing over their bank details.

According to a police statement issued on September 20, scammers have been circulating pop-up alerts that mimic official SPF branding. These alerts falsely claim that a victim’s computer or mobile device has been locked due to repeated access of websites containing illegal content. Victims are then told they must pay “outstanding fines” within hours to unlock their devices.

The pop-ups often include:

• A countdown timer to heighten panic
• Threats of permanent device lockouts
• Warnings of prosecution for non-payment
• A payment form requesting bank card details

Victims typically discover they have been scammed only after unauthorised foreign currency charges appear on their bank accounts — often exceeding the supposed fines.

Authorities stressed that the SPF does not remotely lock personal devices and does not issue fines through pop-up messages. They urged the public to remain vigilant and verify suspicious alerts by calling the ScamShield Helpline at 1799.

The warning comes amid a broader rise in impersonation scams, where criminals use official logos, government branding, or spoofed websites to deceive victims. Police continue to advise the public to avoid clicking on unexpected pop-ups, refrain from entering banking details on unfamiliar sites, and report suspicious activity promptly.