TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan’s mission in Singapore said Friday that Taiwanese resident in the country had received phone calls from scammers pretending to be working for the representative office.

The mission emphasized that government departments would never ask citizens to wire funds or to supply online banking details, per CNA. The alleged scammers called the Taiwanese to tell them there had been problems with their telecom accounts or with their residency permits or visas for Singapore.

The Taiwanese were asked for personal details, supposedly to help with an investigation into their alleged problems. The approach usually came by phone or Whatsapp, with requests to mention passwords or download software, the office emphasized.

Police in Singapore said the fraudsters would also pose as telecom or bank employees asking to confirm the identity of their targets. Members of the public should pay close attention to the phrases used in such a phone call, and immediately end the conversation when they suspect fraud is involved.

After the call, they should phone the 1799 hotline or check with police, immigration, or the telecom company. People should not act according to the requests made by the suspected scammers, but alert the authorities, Taiwan’s office in Singapore said.