The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (“ICA”) of Singapore announced that a false website has been phishing for visitors’ personal data, including visa numbers and passport numbers, in a statement issued on 8 April 2016.

Although access to ICA’s official website is unaffected and no personal data has been reported to be compromised/breached thus far, ICA has made a police report about the fake site.  ICA also urged members of the public to exercise caution and use only its official website for all informational and transactional needs.

The false website’ address is ica-sg.com and it showed a facility titled “Submission of Application for Visa Electronically”.  It claims to allow visitors to submit visa applications online “through the authorised visa agents of the overseas missions, strategic partners in Singapure (sic) or your local contact”.

Visitors to the false website are asked for their “visa reference number” and “travel document number” when they try to make a visa application enquiry.

In order to protect your personal data from being compromised by such phishing websites, it is always prudent to check the authenticity of the website before entering any personal data/information.

If there is any doubt of an email’s or website’s authenticity, refrain from entering your personal data/information and call the government department or company to verify authenticity before proceeding.