At least S$4.8 million lost to scams involving the impersonation of S'pore Harvey Norman employees

An advisory issued by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on Sep. 21 warned against scams involving the impersonation of Harvey Norman employees and government officials.

Since January 2026, at least 119 cases have been reported, with total losses amounting to at least S$4.8 million.

Fake calls

Victims will receive a call from scammers posing as Harvey Norman employees, confirming a recent purchase or pending delivery.

Upon denial, the scammers then claim that the victim’s personal information has been abused and that further investigations are required.

Victims would then be referred to a second scammer impersonating an officer from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), who will then accuse them of involvement in criminal activities.

The scammers will then request money transfers into “safe accounts” or for the handover of valuables to unknown individuals for “investigation purposes”.

Victims usually realise they have been scammed when they do not receive their refunds after multiple payouts.

Beware of certain behaviour

The police said that Singapore government officials would never ask for cash or personal valuables, and transfer calls to the police or other officials.

They also would not ask for the disclosure of banking login details or to download apps from unverified locations.

Members of the public are advised to take necessary precautions against scams.

Guidelines by Harvey Norman

In response to The Straits Times' queries on Sep. 10, Harvey Norman said staff have been briefed and guidelines put in place to help them identify and respond to inquiries relating to the scam calls.

The company said it has also urged consumers to "remain vigilant" and to verify any suspicious calls through its official channels.

It added that it will never ask customers for ID and banking details when they transact with the company.