Singapore residents have raised concerns after receiving suspicious phone calls from individuals claiming to represent insurance companies.
Singaporean blogger Lee Kin Mun, known widely as mrbrown, has taken to social media to alert the public about such scams.
Through his comedic alter ego Kim Huat, Lee posted a TikTok video on 23 July, stating that friends and family members had received dubious calls about insurance policies.
He shared an example involving a friend who received a call from someone claiming to be from NTUC UnionPay.
The caller allegedly told the victim: “We are calling you regarding a policy you took out in June. We are about to deduct S$700 from your account this month. If you don’t cancel, we just want to confirm if you would like to continue or cancel. If you want to cancel, we can transfer you to our support department.”
Worried about the S$700 deduction, the victim agreed to speak with “support”, only to be connected to a man speaking in Mandarin with coffee shop noises in the background.
Kim Huat joked about the situation, saying: “This company allows work from home—work from Kopitiam, WFK! Really?”
He urged the public to hang up immediately on such calls, emphasising that these tactics are clear signs of a scam.
Kim Huat also shared that his niece’s mother received a call from someone claiming to be from Singlife about CareShield Life policy upgrades.
He advised her to ignore the call, pointing out that she had no prior dealings with the company and was on the Do Not Call (DNC) list.
“Even if it’s not a scam, these companies should not be contacting you if you have no prior relationship with them and you’re on the DNC list,” he said.
Kim Huat himself later received a call from someone claiming to be from Manulife, offering the same policy upgrade.
When asked why, the caller suggested he had clicked on a link online.
“Click your head lah! Kim Huat don’t anyhowly click things one hor. I’m well trained. Simi click? I never click anything!” he quipped, warning others to stay alert.
@mrbrownlahKim Huat’s friends and loved ones have been getting insurance calls, but they are sus AF.♬ original sound – mrbrown
Social Media Users Report Similar Scams
Kim Huat’s TikTok post sparked widespread discussion, with many netizens sharing similar experiences.
One user warned that scams have become increasingly sophisticated, often appearing as sponsored ads.
They added that scammers may exploit personal data leaked during cyberattacks.
On Facebook, an insurance agent shared in June that his father received a call from someone posing as a UnionPay representative, claiming he had signed up for a one-month free plan.
The caller warned that if he did not cancel immediately, he would be charged S$900 per month.
“Even though my dad suspected it was a scam, the fear of incurring S$900 got him panicking. Thankfully, I was around to stop it from going further,” the agent wrote.
On 19 July, another woman shared that she confirmed a similar call was a scam after contacting official hotlines.
Reddit users also reported cases where scammers claimed victims had signed up for trial insurance packages that would convert to costly monthly plans unless cancelled.
One user recounted how their mother almost became a victim but was able to block her account with the help of ScamShield and the bank.
At Least S$1.7 Million Lost in Six Similar Cases
The police and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) revealed on 14 March that at least S$1.7 million has been lost since January in six cases involving scammers who claimed victims had outstanding insurance premiums.
Victims were told they had unpaid premiums linked to new or expiring life insurance policies and were redirected to scammers posing as representatives from Income Insurance, NTUC UnionPay or even MAS.
Some scammers instructed victims—via WhatsApp’s screen-sharing function—to transfer money to specific bank accounts for “verification”.
Others impersonated MAS officials, claiming victims’ bank accounts were linked to money laundering.
Victims were told funds would be refunded, but the scammers disappeared after receiving the transfers.
Official Advisory
The police and MAS emphasised that NTUC Union, Income Insurance and UnionPay will never request personal information or payments via unsolicited calls, emails, WhatsApp, or SMS.
Income Insurance’s official hotline is 6788 1777, and MAS will never ask for money transfers or banking credentials.
Members of the public are advised to download the ScamShield app, set transaction limits that are adequate for daily expenses, and verify any suspicious claims through official channels.
Those who require assistance can call the 24-hour Anti-Scam Helpline at 1800-722-6688.
For more information, visit www.scamshield.gov.sg.
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