A 21-year-old foreign student in Singapore gagged and blindfolded himself before posing topless during a video call, because he thought he was taking instructions from a police officer from China.

According to The Straits Times, the student was told that he was being investigated for money laundering offences.

He was instructed to remove his top, gag and blindfold himself to take an "X-ray" over the video call. He was also told to isolate himself in a hotel room and cease contact with family and friends.

However, the "police officer" was actually a scammer who subsequently sent the video of student — blindfolded and gagged — to his parents back in China.

The scammer demanded that they pay a ransom of six million yuan (about S$1.2 million).

The text messages above read:

"You want to gamble with your son's life?"

"Looks like you don't want your son anymore."

Ultimately, the student was found safe and sound in Singapore and his parents did not pay the ransom. The student said that he believed the scammer because they had his personal information.

The student also told CNA that the scammers looked like they were police officers:

“They video-called me wearing police attire and their background looked like a police station.”

China officials impersonation scams are common

Earlier this month, the Singapore Police Force conducted a two-week operation and nabbed 275 scammers and money mules to assist with investigations. They are believed to be involved in over 500 cases of scams in which victims lost around S$7.9 million in total.

Examples of the types of scams include internet love scams, e-commerce scams, Government officials impersonation scams, China officials impersonation scams, and investment scams.

The police advise members of the public to be wary of potential scams:

"To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or mobile lines as you will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes."

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688.

Top image credit: SPF,  Clint Patterson on Unsplash