SINGAPORE: In a bid to safeguard the public from scams, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has warned people not to scan dengue flyers as these are not from them. The warning follows mysterious flyers promising free anti-mosquito lamps in exchange for meeting a financial adviser. The NEA is urging vigilance and prudence when confronted with such unsolicited materials.
Last Wednesday (Oct 25), NEA pointed out on their Facebook page: “DO NOT scan unknown QR codes or access links on flyers or other unsolicited material from suspicious sources! We were again alerted that some residents continue to receive flyers about the redemption of a free dengue lamp, and would like to reiterate that these flyers are NOT from NEA.”
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has joined NEA in issuing a warning to the public regarding these suspicious advertisements. This comes after several residents in Ang Mo Kio received anonymous flyers offering free anti-mosquito lamps if they agreed to meet a financial adviser, reported the Straits Times.
The flyers, left at residents’ gates in a Housing Board block on Ang Mo Kio Street 21 in September, bore the conspicuous slogan, “Beat The Bite”, at the top. The flyers also featured alarming headlines such as “Singapore records first two deaths from dengue” and “One in 20 diagnosed with severe dengue.”
The credibility of the information presented in the flyers was purportedly backed by organisations such as The Straits Times, the National Environment Agency (NEA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. However, a closer look revealed some spelling errors in the text, raising suspicions about the authenticity of the content.
The flyers held a catch that was not immediately apparent to residents. To claim their promised anti-mosquito lamp, they had to scan a QR code, which led them to a website where they were required to input personal details, including their name, address, phone number, and email.
These lamps typically cost around S$20 on e-commerce platforms and are touted to be effective in attracting and eliminating mosquitoes.
One resident, Mr. Yukna, 23, who discovered the flyer on his doorstep on Sept 29, initially dismissed it as routine dengue-related public advertising, which is a common sight. However, his suspicions were raised when he scanned the QR code and encountered prompts demanding his personal information. Upon reading the fine print, he discovered that the applicants’ contact details would be shared with “associated third parties”, who would then conduct a 20-minute sharing session before delivering the lamp.
The website provided no information about the company’s identity employing these financial consultants. In hindsight, Mr. Yukna, a National University of Singapore computer science undergraduate, realised several red flags. Notably, there was no company logo or source mentioned and no alternative URL link for the QR code.
The website linked to the QR code claimed that personal information was collected by “The K Marketing Pte Ltd.” However, despite extensive searches, contact details for this company could not be found online.
According to an MAS spokesman, financial advisers are bound by guidelines to disclose their identities and the financial institutions they represent when engaging in marketing and prospective activities in public.
Consumers who receive dubious flyers were encouraged to consult MAS’s Financial Institutions Directory, Register of Representatives, and Investors Alert List. This extra verification step ensures that the corporations and individuals featured in the publication are authorised to conduct financial activities, thereby adding an extra layer of consumer protection.
/TISG
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