SINGAPORE: At least 66 people have fallen prey to scammers impersonating staff from ecommerce marketplaces since January this year, losing at least S$466,000 in total.

The police issued a statement on Friday (May 20) warning of this growing risk, with victims getting phone calls from scammers over issues with their ecommerce platform accounts.

The swindlers would point to payment discrepancies in the victims’ purchases or claim that they had won a prize from the ecommerce marketplace.

Under the pretence of helping to rectify the issue or claim the prize, the swindlers would trick the victims into providing their ecommerce marketplace account login details, credit or debit card information and one-time password.

The victims realised they had been cheated only when they discovered unauthorised transactions made on their credit or debit card.

The police advise the public to never provide personal details to unknown callers over the phone, and always verify the authenticity of what they are told with the official website or official sources.

They should report any fraudulent credit or debit card charges to their bank and cancel their card immediately.

 - ANN