Fraudsters misuse university branding as investment scam losses remain alarmingly high
Online scams in Singapore are evolving, with fraudsters increasingly exploiting trusted institutions and public figures to appear credible. The latest misuse of university branding highlights how sophisticated and convincing these schemes have become.
Fake NUS Branding Used to Lure Victims
The National University of Singapore warned the public on Jan 8 about fake news articles and advertisements circulating online that misuse the image of NUS President Tan Eng Chye and the university’s logo. According to an official statement posted on NUS’s Facebook page, these materials were created to promote fraudulent investment schemes designed to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
Fraudulent Social Media Accounts Identified
Beyond fake articles and ads, NUS also flagged the emergence of fraudulent social media accounts impersonating the university. One such account, named NusOnline SG, was found using the NUS name and logo to market unauthorized courses. The university clarified that these accounts have no affiliation with NUS and are part of broader scam tactics aimed at building false legitimacy.
Public Urged to Stay Vigilant
NUS strongly advised members of the public not to click on suspicious links, respond to scam messages, or share personal information. Individuals who encounter such scams were urged to report them via ScamShield, Singapore’s official anti-scam platform, to help authorities track and shut down fraudulent activities.
Investment Scams Remain the Costliest
Data released by the Singapore Police Force in August 2025 revealed that close to half a billion dollars was lost to scams in the first half of 2025 alone. Although investment scam cases fell nearly 20 percent year on year to 2,698 cases, they remained the most financially damaging scam category.
Losses Continue to Rise Despite Fewer Cases
From January to June 2025, more than SGD 145 million was lost to investment scams, up from SGD 131.5 million during the same period in 2024. This trend suggests that while fewer victims may be falling for investment scams, the sums involved are growing larger, reflecting increasingly aggressive and targeted fraud strategies.
Trust Exploitation as a Key Scam Strategy
Authorities and institutions note that scammers are deliberately exploiting trusted names such as universities and senior leaders to lower victims’ defenses. By leveraging recognizable brands like NUS, scammers create a false sense of credibility that can be difficult for the public to distinguish from legitimate communications.
The misuse of NUS branding underscores a wider regional challenge as scams become more sophisticated and financially damaging. Strengthening public awareness, rapid reporting, and cross-border cooperation will be crucial for both Singapore and Indonesia as digital fraud continues to target trust, reputation, and financial security across Southeast Asia.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Yahoo! News Singapore (2026)
Keywords: NUS Scam, Investment Scams, Online Fraud, ScamShield Singapore, Cybercrime Trends
