At least $31,000 lost in past two weeks to phishing scams via Apple iMessage - The Straits Times
At least $31,000 has been lost since October 31 to phishing scams targeting Apple iMessage users in Singapore.
SINGAPORE – If you receive a text on Apple iMessage that appears to be from a courier company or a SingHealth polyclinic, be on your guard. The police cautioned in a statement on Nov 14 that at least $31,000 has been lost since Oct 31 to scam Apple iMessages impersonating courier delivery firms or polyclinics.
Scam Tactics
In such scams, victims receive messages that seem to belong to recognized courier companies, informing them of failed parcel deliveries due to incomplete information. Others receive messages from purported SingHealth polyclinics claiming outstanding outpatient bills.
These messages contain phishing links directing recipients to fraudulent websites to obtain personal, banking or credit card information, or to make payment, according to the police.
Police Advice
The police advised the public not to reply to such messages and urged checking the legitimacy of courier-related messages using the ScamShield app or through the courier's official website.
Recipients should check with the courier using contact details obtained from official sources before providing any information or making payment.
Broader Context
Apple users are advised to keep their devices updated with the latest software version to benefit from security and anti-scam safeguards. The police issued a similar advisory on Nov 3, reporting scams involving couriers such as TracX Logis, uParcel and Park N Parcel.
Scams remain the dominant crime type in Singapore, with $410.6 million lost to these ruses in the first half of 2026 alone. E-commerce was the most common scam type, with 3,865 cases and losses of more than $8 million during that period.
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