Police are warning the public about a new malware “sextortion” scam where victims are blackmailed over compromising photos taken from their phones.
In an advisory issued on Dec 3, police said at least six such cases have been reported since November 2025, with total losses amounting to at least $20,000.
Here’s how the scam works: Victims come across offers of online sexual services on social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram Threads. They’re then tricked into downloading a malicious app, supposedly to start a video call.
The malware allows scammers to secretly access the victims’ photo galleries and contact lists on their devices. During or after the video call, the scammers capture images of victims engaging in sexual acts, or they retrieve compromising content from the photo galleries.
Then comes the blackmail part – the scammers threaten to send these photos to the victims’ contacts unless payment is made. Wah, very evil sia!
Police are reminding everyone to make a police report immediately if anyone tries to extort you. Don’t panic and pay them lah, because once you pay, they’ll just keep asking for more.
The public is also encouraged to follow the ACT “Add, Check, Tell” framework: Add the ScamShield app to block and detect scam calls, Check for scam signs, and Tell family and friends about scams to help everyone stay alert.
If you’re unsure about anything, you can call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Better safe than sorry! Don’t simply download apps from strangers, especially for such services.
This is Truly SG 🇸🇬
☕Got time for kopi? Meet a Truly SG partner financial consultant for a short sharing session and receive $25 Shopee eVoucher. Limited slots!
