Fake Friend Scam Singapore: The 'Guess Who' Call That Costs Thousands

"Hey, Guess Who This Is?"

It starts with an innocent-sounding message or call: "Hey! It's me. Guess who?" You name a friend. The caller says, "Yes, that's right!" And just like that, you've handed a scammer the perfect disguise.

The fake friend scam (also called the "guess who" scam) is one of Singapore's most common fraud types, with 4,179 cases reported in 2024 and 187+ cases since April 2025 alone, totaling S$653,000 in losses.

How the Fake Friend Scam Works

The Setup

1. You receive a WhatsApp message or call from an unknown number
2. The caller asks: "Guess who this is?" or "Do you know who I am?"
3. You guess a friend's name — the scammer immediately adopts that identity
4. They save your number and may continue the conversation for days to build trust

The Ask

Once you believe you're talking to your friend, the scammer makes an urgent request:

Common Excuses	What They Want
"I'm stuck overseas, lost my wallet"	Direct bank transfer
"Medical emergency, need money ASAP"	PayNow transfer
"Can you help me buy gift cards?"	Gift card codes
"I need to pay a bill, my banking app is down"	Immediate cash transfer

Why It's So Effective

• You named the friend yourself — so you already believe the identity
• Urgency prevents verification — "I need it NOW, I'm in trouble"
• 24.4% of elderly victims fall for this type of scam
• Emotional manipulation — the scammer plays on your desire to help a friend

The Simple Defense: A Family Safe Word

The most effective defense against fake friend scams is surprisingly low-tech: establish a secret code phrase that only real family members and close friends know.

How It Works

1. Choose a unique phrase that's easy to remember but hard to guess
2. Share it only with family members and closest friends
3. When someone claims to be a family member or friend and asks for money, ask for the code phrase
4. If they can't provide it, you know it's a scam

Where to Store Your Safe Word

The tricky part is making sure everyone remembers the code phrase — but keeping it secure. Here's where LOCK.PUB comes in:

• Create a password-protected memo with your family's verification phrase
• Share the link with family members — only those with the password can view it
• Or set up a password-protected chat room where family members can verify identities in real-time

This way, the phrase is stored securely online, accessible only to those who know the password, and can be referenced anytime someone receives a suspicious "guess who" call.

Red Flags to Watch For

Red Flag	What It Means
"Guess who?" from an unknown number	Classic scam opener
Refuses to say their name first	Real friends identify themselves
Urgently needs money	Creating panic to prevent thinking
Asks you not to call their "regular number"	Avoiding verification
New number with no explanation	No legitimate reason to hide
Asks for gift cards specifically	Untraceable payment method

What to Do If You Suspect a Fake Friend Scam

1. Don't send money — no matter how urgent the request seems
2. Call the friend directly on their known, saved number
3. Ask a personal question only the real friend would know
4. Use your family safe word if you've established one
5. Report the number to ScamShield and the Anti-Scam Helpline (1799)

Key Statistics

Metric	Value
Reported cases in 2024	4,179
Cases since April 2025	187+
Total losses (2025)	S$653,000
Elderly victim rate	24.4%
Primary channel	WhatsApp, SMS

Protecting the Vulnerable

Elderly family members are particularly at risk. Here's how to help:

• Set up a family safe word and practice using it
• Store the safe word in a secure, accessible place — a LOCK.PUB password-protected memo is ideal
• Regularly remind them that real friends will always identify themselves
• Help them report suspicious messages to ScamShield

Summary

• 4,179 cases in 2024, 187+ since April 2025 with S$653K lost
• The scam starts with "Guess who?" — you name a friend, and the scammer becomes that person
• Best defense: Establish a family safe word and store it securely using LOCK.PUB
• Always verify by calling the friend directly on their known number
• Never send money based on a message from an unknown number

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Real friends don't mind you calling them back to verify. If someone gets offended by a quick verification call, they're probably not your friend.