How scammers built a fake Zoom call from real videos of PM Wong and other Singapore leaders

Singapore police have arrested individuals suspected of orchestrating a sophisticated scam involving a fabricated Zoom call featuring real videos of current and former government officials. The scheme, which targeted an unsuspecting individual in early 2026, led to the transfer of at least S$4.9 million to the scammers. According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the fraud was executed using real, publicly available videos of high-profile figures, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Minister Indranee Rajah. The fraudulent Zoom call purported to involve a group of Singaporean and international leaders discussing urgent measures to stabilize trade through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional tensions. The scammers utilized existing footage from a 2022 press conference where then-Finance Minister Lawrence Wong addressed the easing of Singapore’s pandemic restrictions. This footage, originally broadcasted with approximately 30,000 views, was repurposed in the scam. The specific segment used by the scammers began around the 41-minute mark of the one-hour video, making it difficult for casual observers to identify its origin. In addition to Mr. Wong’s footage, the scammers incorporated clips from other public appearances. For example, a video of President Tharman, recorded during a virtual panel in November 2020, was used. This clip, which had fewer than 200 views as of August 2026, was part of a broader discussion on economic policy. Similarly, footage of Minister Indranee Rajah was sourced from a March 2023 interview with Money FM 89.3, where she discussed housing and urban planning. That particular segment had just over 350 views. The scammers modified the audio in these videos to create the illusion of a live conversation. While the visuals remained largely untouched, the audio was altered to include fabricated statements and instructions. This technique allowed the scammers to maintain the appearance of authenticity while subtly guiding the victim toward financial disclosure. Professor Hannah Yee-Fen Lim, an expert in AI governance at Nanyang Technological University’s Global Institute of Finance, Technology and Society, noted that the use of low-viewcount videos made it harder for potential victims to recognize the content as manipulated. She emphasized that this approach was more cost-effective and efficient than generating synthetic likenesses using artificial intelligence. To further enhance the deception, the scammers removed or obscured watermarks and branding from the original videos. For instance, the footage of Ms. Indranee included a watermark from Money FM 89.3, which was carefully edited out. Similarly, the video of Mr. Wong featured a watermark from The Straits Times, which was also removed. These alterations helped conceal the source of the material and contributed to the overall credibility of the scam. The fraudulent call was conducted in such a manner that it appeared to be a genuine, real-time interaction. The scammers employed graphic overlays and doctored audio to simulate a live environment, making it challenging for the victim to discern the manipulation. The combination of real visuals and fabricated dialogue created a convincing scenario that led to the substantial financial loss. The Singapore Police Force has since obtained a full recording of the fraudulent call, which was shared exclusively with Channel NewsAsia. The agency is currently investigating the case and has identified multiple suspects involved in the operation. The incident highlights the increasing sophistication of online scams and the need for greater awareness and digital literacy among the public. As technology continues to evolve, so too do the methods employed by cybercriminals, necessitating ongoing efforts to combat such threats.