If someone says they can recover money lost through Fun Coffee but first needs a deposit, tax or processing fee, do not make the second payment. Singapore Police have warned that supposed fund-recovery services are targeting people who already lost money on the platform. The new approach can use knowledge of the first loss to sound credible.
The Police advisory on Fun Coffee recovery scams describes claims that money can be returned after another payment. A recovery amount shown on a website, dashboard or message is not money received in your bank account.
The five-minute containment sequence
- Stop replying and do not transfer again. Do not pay a small “verification” amount.
- Call the bank using its official number. State that the transfer may be fraudulent and follow the bank’s containment instructions.
- Secure accounts. If credentials, card details or remote access were shared, change access through a clean device and tell the bank.
- Preserve evidence. Save messages, numbers, profiles, URLs, payment records and account details.
- Report through official channels. Contact Police and use ScamShield for immediate scam guidance.
Speed matters because the bank may need transaction details quickly. Do not spend the first hour arguing with the person who contacted you or trying to make them confess.
Recovery-scam red flags
| Claim | Why it is unsafe | Independent test |
|---|---|---|
| “Pay a refundable deposit to unlock your funds” | The supposed refund requires a new transfer | Do not pay; contact the bank and Police directly. |
| “Tax must be paid to us first” | A stranger appoints itself tax collector | Verify any tax obligation with the authority through its official site. |
| “We represent the platform or liquidator” | Names and documents can be copied | Find the organisation’s official contact independently. |
| “This is your last recovery window” | Urgency blocks verification | Pause; a legitimate claim process can be checked. |
| “Install this app so we can return the money” | Remote access can expose bank and identity data | Do not install it; secure the device if already installed. |
Preserve the approach, not only the payment
Save the first recovery message, caller number, display name, email address, website, payment beneficiary and every file sent. Export the chat if the app permits. Take screenshots that show date and time, but retain the original conversation too. Record whether the caller knew your name, earlier payment amount or account details.
Do not forward suspicious files to friends for inspection. Tell investigators what you received and follow their evidence instructions.
If you already paid the recovery service
Call the bank immediately and identify every transfer, including a “test” amount. If you disclosed Singpass, card, email or banking credentials, say so. If you installed an app or allowed screen sharing, disconnect the device from the network, stop banking on it and seek the bank’s and Police’s directions.
The official ScamShield portal lists the 24/7 helpline at 1799 and routes people who have been scammed to urgent steps. Obtain the number from the official .gov.sg site, not from the recovery caller.
Do not become part of the payment chain
A scammer may ask a victim to receive money from another person and forward it, claiming this is part of recovery. Do not use your account, SIM or Singpass for someone else’s transactions. Our scam-mule warning explains the separate criminal and account risks.
Messages can also appear under misleading sender names. The “Likely-SCAM” sender-ID guide shows why both a warning label and its absence require further verification.
A legitimate recovery process should survive verification
A genuine insolvency, law-enforcement or court process will have an independently verifiable organisation, authority, reference and written procedure. It will not become genuine because a person sends an official-looking PDF. Locate the regulator, court, administrator or firm yourself and contact it through published details.
The decision
Stop the second loss first. Bank, device, evidence, Police. Only after containment should you investigate whether any legitimate claim route exists. No recovered balance on a screen is worth another transfer to an unverified stranger.
Write one incident timeline
List the original Fun Coffee payment, when access or withdrawal failed, every recovery approach and any second payment. Use bank timestamps and exact amounts. A clean timeline helps the bank and Police identify beneficiaries and prevents multiple relatives from giving inconsistent versions.
Secure the communication chain
| Exposure | Immediate control |
|---|---|
| Bank login or OTP shared | Call the bank, restrict access and follow its credential-reset process |
| Singpass details shared | Use official Singpass support and review connected services |
| Remote-access app installed | Stop banking on the device and obtain trusted technical help |
| Identity document sent | Record recipient and monitor for impersonation or account misuse |
Do not announce new passwords or account actions in the compromised chat.
Family support without blame
A victim may hide the second approach because the first loss is embarrassing. Focus on stopping transfers and preserving facts. Assign one person to contact the bank and another to organise evidence, with the victim’s consent. Shame makes urgent reporting slower.
Beware paid “investigators” after the report
Posting publicly about a loss can attract another wave of recovery claims. Do not publish personal payment details. A private person who says they traced cryptocurrency, froze an overseas account or has a Police contact must still be verified independently and should not receive another fee.
Close only on confirmed outcomes
Record whether transfers were recalled, accounts were secured and a report reference was issued. Do not count a promised reversal or a dashboard balance as recovered money until the bank confirms settled funds.
