Blackmail Threat Over EZ-Link Card: Scam or Serious Danger?

A Singaporean student recently took to Reddit's r/SingaporeRaw to express their fear and paranoia after receiving a blackmail threat. The student, posting under the username "WinUnable," detailed a frightening situation involving their personal information and a demand for a significant sum of money.

The Threat

The core of the issue is that an unknown individual possesses a photo of the student's school EZ-Link card (which includes their photo) and their phone number. The blackmailer is demanding SGD 1,000, threatening to send loan sharks to "deal with" the student if the payment isn't made.

Real or just blackmailing?(SINGAPORE)
I’ll just cut to the main part and skip all the story telling
This person has a picture of my school Ezlink card which has my face on it.
They also have my phone number
they’re threatening me saying i have to pay them 1k SGD or they’ll send loan sharks to ‘deal with me’
Can they even find my address with my phone number , name and face?—WinUnable, r/SingaporeRaw

The student, who is 20 years old but still in school, has already filed a police report. However, despite being told by two police officers that it's unlikely the blackmailer could find their address with the available information, the student remains deeply concerned, particularly because they are currently alone in Singapore.

I’ve made a police report already and 2 police officers have told me that it isn’t possible for them to find my address but i’m still so paranoid.

Community Response: Reassurance and Advice

The Reddit community overwhelmingly responded with reassurance and practical advice. The consensus is that this is almost certainly a scam and that the blackmailer's threats are empty.

Several key points were raised by the Redditors:

• EZ-Link Cards Are Not Useful for Tracking: Redditors pointed out that EZ-Link cards are not a reliable means of obtaining someone's address. Accessing such information would require breaching secure databases, which is highly unlikely for a low-level scammer.
• Loan Sharks Don't Target Random People: Loan sharks target individuals who have actually borrowed money from them. They wouldn't be involved in a situation where there's no existing debt.
• The "TXXXX000A" Number Isn't a Major Concern: The student worried about a partial NRIC number ("TXXXX000A") on the card. Redditors downplayed this, noting that even full NRIC numbers are no longer considered strictly private information.
• This is likely Harassment and Duress: It was emphasized that the blackmailer's actions constitute harassment and duress, which are illegal.
• Practical Steps to Take:
  • Don't Pay: The most crucial advice was to absolutely not pay the demanded money.
  • Keep Evidence: Preserve all communication from the blackmailer (screenshots, messages, etc.).
  • Report to the Police (Again, if Necessary): Reinforce the existing police report with any new threats or information.
  • Consider a Doorbell Camera: This provides an extra layer of security and can deter potential harassers.
  • Block the Blackmailer: Cease all communication with the blackmailer.
  • Inform Family/Friends: Don't keep the situation to yourself; seek support from trusted individuals.

Also whatever this person is doing is duress and harassment. Keep all evidence and receipts.—Many_End_7857, r/SingaporeRaw

LOLOL. oh you poor thing. an EZ link card is terribly difficult to use to track. unless they have access to the data that MOE-Ez-Link has. and in any case...asking for $1k? from....a kid? no way they can find you, these idiots dont know what they're doing or to whom. and just so you know, loan sharks dont come after those who didnt borrow from them. only if theres an actual debt.—kiaeej, r/SingaporeRaw

No they can’t find your address? That’s impossible. Also EZ-Link card is like.. the most harmless form of identification lol.—Many_End_7857, r/SingaporeRaw

Have u spoken with your parents or elder siblings or cousins? Or even teachers. They are most able to help you, besides the police.—Thruthrutrain, r/SingaporeRaw

Get a doorbell camera. People remember how to behave once they realize they are being filmed. Most people at least.—West_Point_5225, r/SingaporeRaw

The Likely Scenario: A Common Scam

The details of the threat, particularly the relatively low demand of SGD 1,000 and the reliance on an EZ-Link card, strongly suggest a common scam tactic. Scammers often use scare tactics and readily available information (like a phone number and a photo) to try to intimidate victims into paying. They rely on fear and anxiety to make their threats seem credible.

They are worthless scammers.—Next-Combination5406, r/SingaporeRaw

Lmao this kind of scammers will give all kinds of empty threats and then move on to next victim once they realise u won't send any money—Desboy, r/SingaporeRaw

Missing Information and Further Questions

While the Reddit community provided excellent advice, some crucial details remain unclear:

• How did the blackmailer obtain the photo and phone number? Was the EZ-Link card lost or stolen? Was the information shared online or with someone the student knows? This is crucial for understanding the potential scope of the threat and preventing future incidents.
• What platform was used for the threat? (WhatsApp, SMS, email, etc.) This information is vital for documenting the harassment and potentially tracing the blackmailer.
• Was a payment method specified? (PayNow, bank transfer, etc.) This could provide further leads for the police.

I'm thinking how did they get your phone number... How do you think they might have obtained a photo of your ezlink pass and your number? Have you given your pass out recently?—Thruthrutrain, r/SingaporeRaw

It is also crucial to report the lost/stolen EZ-link Card.

just report smrt to cancel that card loh. ask them re issue—wzwowzw0002, r/SingaporeRaw

Conclusion: Stay Calm and Take Action

The overwhelming message from the Reddit community is that WinUnable should remain calm and not give in to the blackmailer's demands. By reporting the incident to the police, documenting all communication, and blocking the blackmailer, the student is taking the correct steps to protect themselves. This situation serves as a reminder to be cautious about sharing personal information and to be aware of common scam tactics.

Further action that can be taken is to pick up some self defense classes, not only to protect yourself physically, but also to increase your confidence.

If police already told you not to worry and you still do worry. Time to pick up some muay thai. Not that you onlygoing to be more fit, your balls do get bigger too.—sffreaks, r/SingaporeRaw