Urgent gambling and scam help in Singapore

If money or account access is at risk

If you think a gambling-related payment, message or account interaction may involve a scam, pause before sending more money. Do not provide additional passwords, one-time codes or identity information to an unknown contact. Keep the relevant messages, payment references, phone numbers, usernames and dates in a safe place. These records can help when you speak with your bank, the Police or an official support service.

ScamShield provides Singapore scam-checking guidance and operates a 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799. Its guidance is useful when you are unsure whether a message, request or payment situation is suspicious. You can also use the official information to understand what help is available before deciding what to do next. Visit ScamShield for the current guidance.

If you have already transferred money, contact your bank through its official channel as soon as possible. Do not rely on a number or link contained in the suspicious message. A quick report does not guarantee that money can be recovered, but preserving the details and acting promptly gives the relevant organisation information to assess the situation.

When an online gambling message looks illegal

Unwanted messages promoting online gambling can create pressure to click, deposit or share personal details. Treat a message as untrusted when it demands immediate action, uses an unfamiliar contact, asks for payment to unlock winnings or requests security information. Do not forward the message as an endorsement or continue a conversation simply because the sender uses a familiar brand name.

The Personal Data Protection Commission states that illegal gambling messages should be referred to the Police. Its guidance also points people to anti-scam help at 1799. Read the current PDPC guidance on unlicensed loans and online gambling messages for the official direction and relevant reporting context.

Keep the original message where possible, including its sender details, link, wording and time received. A screenshot can be useful for your own records, but do not edit it in a way that removes important context. Do not publish another person’s personal information while seeking help.

Support for gambling-related harm

You do not need to wait until losses become severe before seeking support. If gambling is affecting your money, sleep, relationships, work or ability to stop, consider speaking with a trained service. The National Council on Problem Gambling lists the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1800-6-668-668. NCPG also provides webchat, counselling and self-exclusion routes.

When contacting a support service, you can explain what is happening in plain terms: how often you gamble, whether you are chasing losses, whether someone else is affected, and what immediate change you want to make. You do not need to prepare a perfect account. The official NCPG information describes the available help and routes to support; check it for current access details at NCPG’s help information.

If you are helping a family member or friend, focus on immediate safety and practical support rather than arguing about past decisions. Encourage them to contact NCPG directly. Avoid lending money to cover repeated gambling losses or making promises on their behalf that you cannot keep.

Self-exclusion and taking a formal break

Self-exclusion is a formal restriction with a statutory meaning and scope under the Casino Control Act. It should not be described as a guarantee that every gambling opportunity will be blocked, and it is not the same as simply closing an account with a particular operator. The current wording and application matter, so read the official legislation and the current NCPG information before relying on a self-exclusion route.

The Casino Control Act provision on self-exclusion is the primary source for the statutory meaning and scope recorded here. NCPG’s support information provides self-exclusion routes alongside counselling and other help. If you are unsure which route applies, ask NCPG rather than relying on an advertisement or an informal promise.

A practical break can also include removing saved payment details, limiting access to gambling-related messages and telling a trusted person what support you are seeking. These steps are personal safeguards, not a substitute for the formal routes or professional help described by the official services.

Choose the next step

Protect your records and personal information

Make a short timeline while events are fresh. Note the date, amount, payment channel, account or wallet reference, contact details and what was promised. Store copies securely and limit access to people who are helping. If a message contains a link, record the visible address without opening it. Do not send identity documents or banking credentials to an unverified contact offering assistance.

Be cautious of a second approach claiming to recover your gambling losses for an upfront fee. The supplied official sources support scam-checking and reporting guidance, but they do not establish that any private recovery service is genuine. Verify contact details independently through the official service’s own information.

How to ask for help without delay

For scam concerns, start with ScamShield’s guidance or the 24/7 Helpline at 1799. For illegal gambling messages, follow the PDPC direction to refer them to the Police. For problem gambling, contact NCPG at 1800-6-668-668 or use its listed webchat, counselling and self-exclusion routes.

Have the key facts ready, but do not postpone contact because your records are incomplete. You can say what happened, what you have already paid or shared, and what you need now. If another person is at immediate risk, involve an appropriate trusted person and the relevant emergency or official service. This guide does not replace direct advice from those services.

Frequently asked questions