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Singapore
12 scams
From the Gardens by the Bay to the concrete jungle that makes up Singapore’s cityscape, Singapore is indeed, a “city in a garden” and a joy to explore.
However, despite its reputation as the safest country globally, there are still tourist targeted scams and petty crime to watch out for.
Note: vast majority of trips are trouble free and there is no need to be paranoid. That said, it always pays to be aware, careful, and prepared.
Emergency numbers
- Police (emergency): 999
- Police (non-emergency): 1800 255 0000
- Fire, ambulance (emergency): 995
- Ambulance (non-emergency): 1777
Travel resources
Sob story scammers in Singapore
6 0How it works: Foreigner: an infamous past case was that of a well-dressed pair claiming to be here on a business trip from China but got scammed and have no…
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Electronics shopping scams in Singapore
5 0How it works: Situation: these scams have been going on for decades with locals scammed too. Case in 2014: things came to a head when a Vietnamese tourist had to…
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Restaurant scams in Singapore
4 0How it works: Tricks (mostly around seafood at touristy areas): Scam 1: misleading prices. Scam 2: misleading portion sizes. Scam 3: menus without prices/not in English. Cases: Charged SGD $239…
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Fake event, attraction tickets in Singapore
4 1How it works: With the rise of p2p online marketplaces (e.g. Facebook, Carousell), there has been a rising trend of fake tickets sold online, or of sellers who disappear after…
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Fake monks in Singapore
2 0How it works: Situation: although sightings have been occasional, they have been around for more than a decade! Opening: they will offer you an amulet/pendant or a blessing, then ask…
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Fake products in Singapore
2 1How it works: At some street shops (e.g. in Chinatown, Bugis Street), you may see discounted fragrances sold for just a few dollars. These are simply watered down products in…
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Nightclub scams in Singapore
1 1How it works: Situation: You may encounter these at Orchard Towers, a building which turns into the “4 towers of wh*res at night”. Past reports: Charged thousands for a few…
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Fake travel agent in Singapore
1 0How it works: Situation 1: there have been some cases of fly by night travel agents who offer cheap tours and then disappear; as well as some tour agencies which…
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Taxi scams in Singapore
1 1How it works: Situation: taxis in Singapore are highly reliable and scams are rare, though there have still been cases. Version 1: charging an excessive surcharge. Version 2: returning Malaysian…
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Donation/charity scams in Singapore
1 0How it works: Offline: scammers have used forged donation permits and self-made donation tins to solicit on the streets; fliers claiming to represent charities have also been passed around. Online:…
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Vacation apartment scams in Singapore
1 0How it works: Situation: there have been both fake listings on legitimate sites as well as fake sites. Red flags: cheap prices, copy-pasted description, dodgy sounding reviews, difference in photos…
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Pickpockets in Singapore
1 0How it works: Situation: despite being extremely safe, 4,000+ cases of shop thefts and pickpockets are still reported annually. These are usually perpetrated by foreign crime syndicates during festive/peak travel…
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