SINGAPORE – A National University of Singapore (NUS) student became the target of a scam in which individuals posing as police officers coerced the student into cutting ties with family and friends, staying under constant video surveillance, and transferring money overseas.

The student also had to report daily activities at all times, and record “confession” videos, said the university in a security advisory sent out to students.

NUS, in response to queries from The Straits Times, confirmed on Oct 3 that a police report has been lodged, and investigations are underway.

The university declined to reveal more details about the case – such as the content of the “confession”, when the incident occurred and the amount of money involved – citing that it is under police investigation.

According to the advisory, the student received an unsolicited text message, followed by a phone call from individuals claiming to be police officers.

Over the following weeks, the scammers maintained constant contact with the student via phone calls, video chats and messaging apps.

They demanded that the student remain constantly visible on video or available by voice call, report daily activities, and sever contact with friends, family and social media.

Using fabricated documents that appeared to come from government authorities and banks, the scammers pressured the student to transfer money to overseas accounts. They even instructed the student to record “confession” videos.

NUS said in the advisory that scammers often create a false sense of urgency or authority to pressure victims into compliance.

“Do not comply with suspicious instructions, especially those demanding secrecy or money transfers,” it said.

Students should verify requests through official hotlines and report suspected scams to the police immediately, it added.