The scam began with a WhatsApp message, the Singapore Police Force said in advisories issued last week. The profile photo belonged to Wong Hong Kuan, Singapore's actual Secretary to the Cabinet. The message informed the victim, described by police only as a business professional, that he had been selected to attend a virtual meeting with the prime minister.
He was asked to provide an email address, sign a non-disclosure agreement and submit a copy of his identification card. He did all three. An email followed, from the address WongHongKuan.secretarycabinet@proton.me, requesting urgent funding assistance for the government in connection with the Strait of Hormuz situation.
"The email included what appeared to be an official government-issued letter of guarantee bearing PM Wong's signature, stating that the funds would be reimbursed by the Singapore Government within 15 business days," according to the Singapore Police Force.
The Zoom video conference that followed was elaborate. The footage, later released by police, purportedly showed Wong, Tharman, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah and representatives of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Alongside them were figures from outside the country: Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, the senior diplomatic adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, and executives of BlackRock and the Dubai International Financial Center, SCMP reported.
