New Parcel Scam Variants Exposed: Impersonation Frauds Involving Fees and Forged Gold Shipments

Singapore's seamless e-commerce ecosystem, handling millions of parcels daily, is under siege from increasingly cunning fraudsters. These impersonation schemes trick victims into paying bogus "verification fees" or sharing bank details for supposed held shipments, including high-stakes gold bars. Emerging in recent months, they've already duped several individuals, eroding trust in official processes and risking financial ruin.

What Are the New Parcel Scam Variants?

These variants represent an evolution in government impersonation scams, specifically targeting the anxiety of delayed or seized parcels. Fraudsters masquerade as Singapore Customs officers, using forged documents and urgent communications to demand payments or sensitive information for "release." This preys on the frustration of cross-border shopping, where duties and inspections are real concerns, but scammers twist them into extortion.

Rooted in phishing and vishing techniques from common online scam playbooks, these ploys exploit "authority bias" – the instinctive deference to officials. Victims receive unsolicited emails or WhatsApp messages with polished fakes: inspection notices, photos of contraband (like gold bars), and threats of legal repercussions. Payments often go to overseas bank accounts, enabling quick laundering, while shared details fuel identity theft.

In Singapore's context, with over 1.5 million parcels processed daily, the scenarios feel authentic – especially for Shopee or Lazada users importing valuables. Globally, they echo SMS phishing in delivery alerts from fraud hotspots like Indonesia, but the "contraband" angle adds a layer of dread, blending parcel woes with fabricated crimes like smuggling.

The core deception: No legitimate agency charges via unofficial channels or demands bank info upfront. Instead, these scams chain small concessions (e.g., a "form") into major losses.

Recent Advisory: Customs Details Two Deceptive Tactics

CNA's report, "Singapore Customs warns of two new parcel scam variants", dated December 3, 2025, spotlights these threats after victims began verifying suspicious notices. Singapore Customs emphasized their severity, noting they "undermine public trust," and clarified that official correspondence comes solely from @customs.gov.sg domains – never Gmail, WhatsApp, or social media.

Variant 1: Bogus Parcel Inspection Emails Imposters email from Gmail addresses (e.g., [email protected]), alerting that a parcel is "withheld for compliance." Attached is a falsified inspection notice, falsely signed by senior management, mandating an on-site visit days out. To "waive" it, victims pay a "verification fee" to a Malaysian bank, with a bogus refund promise. They're also tricked into completing a forged "Singapore Customs Inspection Agreement" form, embedding bank details for the "payout." As deadlines near, follow-ups threaten Malaysian police notification and arrest for "contraband smuggling." Verification calls exposed Malaysia-registered numbers in the scams.