Six people have been arrested for impersonating Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) or Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel to place fraudulent bulk orders with Singapore businesses, according to police reports published on 23 September 2025.
The scams resulted in financial losses worth thousands of dollars across multiple businesses. Three new cases emerged recently, adding to a growing pattern of similar fraud incidents.
Scam Operations
Suspects sent fake procurement orders bearing MINDEF or SAF insignia to local businesses. The multi-page documents appeared official and requested large quantities of food or goods.
A bakery, florist, and hawker stall preparing 150 packets of chicken and mutton briyani were among the latest victims. These businesses prepared orders only to discover the fraud when pickup times were missed.
Earlier cases involved phone calls from people claiming to be uniformed personnel. Recent incidents featured fabricated paperwork, marking an escalation in the scammers’ methods.
Arrests and Investigation
Police arrested three suspects aged 16 to 31 across different Singapore locations during recent operations. Investigations indicate a scam syndicate directed individuals to open bank accounts, acquire phone lines, and forge documents in exchange for payments.
A 22-year-old woman was charged in court for her involvement. She faces potential prison sentences, fines, or both. Investigations continue for other suspects.
Some scammers referenced Bedok Camp to appear authentic. WhatsApp profile checks revealed inconsistencies in the military attire worn by impersonators. No evidence links the perpetrators to actual SAF members.
Business Losses
Business owners faced immediate losses from prepared goods and raw ingredients. One bakery sold mystery boxes at $30 each through Instagram to recover costs before food spoiled.
A florist lost over $1,000 preparing bouquets for a fake government order. Hawker stalls also suffered losses when hoax orders went uncollected.
Official Response
MINDEF issued public alerts through official social media channels, asking businesses to report suspicious orders to law enforcement. Police conduct ongoing raids and digital forensic analysis to track the syndicate.
Authorities advise businesses to verify large orders through official government channels before committing resources.
