SINGAPORE — Did you receive a survey on WhatApp from the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) recently? Beware, it could be a scam.
The association has warned the public about scammers impersonating their officers and conducting a fake online survey.
Its executive director Lee Siow Hwee said in a media release on Thursday (20 April) that it had received three reports on such text messages from the public on Wednesday.
Promise of $13 reward for survey completion
In the text messages, the scammers asked recipients to participate in a survey supposedly aimed at improving online shopping experiences for consumers.
The participants were asked a series of questions about their profile and shopping preferences, and were promised “a monetary reward of $13 upon completion of the survey”.
“The text messages were sent via WhatsApp and originated from foreign phone numbers such as +1(708)321-1125 and +1(334)408-1437 and +1(507)416-4598,” Lee said.
She added that CASE have reported the matter to the police, and urged anyone who receives similar messages to give feedback to the association via their hotline at 97958397.
How actual CASE surveys are conducted
Lee emphasised that annual surveys commissioned by CASE would be conducted in person, with interviewers producing a letter of authorisation and identification. The appointed vendor’s name and the survey’s time period would also be announced on the CASE website.
Lee added that the public may verify the authenticity of CASE surveys by contacting the association through its hotline or visiting its website.
For scam-related advice, the public may also visit Scam Alert or call its helpline at 1800-7226688.
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