OneMotoring impersonation scams: 37 people in S'pore lost S$407,000 since Dec. 2024

At least S$407,000 has been lost to phishing scams impersonating the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) OneMotoring platform since December 2024.

According to a news release on Apr. 14, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said they have observed a resurgence of such scams, with 37 cases recorded in four months.

How it works

Victims would first receive fraudulent SMS messages allegedly from OneMotoring, alerting them to unpaid bills.

These messages contained malicious links that led unsuspecting recipients to fake payment websites designed to mimic the official platform.

Once on the spoofed websites, they were prompted to enter sensitive information including personal details and credit or debit card credentials.

The scam only came to light after unauthorised transactions began appearing on the bank accounts of victims.

Authorities have clarified that legitimate messages from the LTA regarding unpaid road taxes or other fees will never include direct payment links.

Official notifications are only delivered via government-authorised SMS with "gov.sg" sender ID, e-letters accessible through Singpass, or hardcopy letters if opted for.

Staying vigilant

To combat the rise in phishing scams, the police are urging the public to adopt a three-pronged strategy:

• Add security measures such as ScamShield, transaction limits, and two-factor authentication
• Check the legitimacy of messages with official sources or through the Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688
• Tell friends, family, and the authorities to increase community vigilance

Members of the public may also learn more via the Scamshield website.

Top photos via Onemotoring