MAS warns against fraudulent emails impersonating the central bank

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued an advisory warning the public of fraudulent emails purportedly sent from @mas.gov.sg email accounts. 

The emails carried subject titles such as “Fund Transmittal” and “Singapore Compliance Information”. Recipients are  asked to click on links or open attachments which contain malware.

MAS urged members of the public to not respond to the emails, open the email attachments or divulge any personal information including login IDs or passwords.

Photo courtesy: MAS
Photo courtesy: MAS

Some of the emails claim that MAS has received funds from foreign central banks remitted to the email recipients. Recipients are then asked to pay a transaction fee and provide details of their bank accounts to a specified email address.

Another group of emails claimed that MAS is updating information on the training status of compliance officers for programmes related to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. Recipients are asked to provide this information by filling out documents attached in the emails.

The financial regulator stressed that under no circumstances will MAS ask members of the public to provide their personal or bank account information.

If members of the public receive any unsolicited or suspicious emails purportedly from MAS requesting personal or bank account information, they should report this to MAS at webmaster@mas.gov.sg. 

Here are screenshots of emails purportedly from MAS: 

Photo courtesy: MAS
Photo courtesy: MAS
Photo courtesy: MAS
Photo courtesy: MAS