Woman allegedly loses life savings after joining fake FB hiking group, installing suspicious app
A Singaporean woman allegedly lost her life savings after joining a Facebook group for hikers and being instructed to install a suspicious app.
The incident was shared in a 9 June 2025 Facebook post by user Raji Vry, who described the victim as a close friend.
According to the post, the woman had joined a Facebook group named 'Happy Strides', which appeared to be a legitimate platform for hiking enthusiasts.
The administrator of the group, identified as Jamie, allegedly initiated contact with the woman on 7 June.
Jamie instructed her to install an app called Azure Club to create a profile for the hiking community. This guidance reportedly took place over a WhatsApp call.
During the installation, the woman's phone began to lag. Jamie allegedly told her that such behaviour was normal and advised her to let the program run.
The phone temporarily went blank but then returned to normal.
However, the next morning, the woman's debit card was declined while attempting to pay for lunch.
She visited a DBS ATM and discovered only around S$100 remaining in her account.
'She tried to withdraw money from DBS ATM, but there was only about S$100 left in her cash balance,' Vry wrote in her Facebook post.
That was when the woman realised something was amiss.
Large sums had reportedly been siphoned from her accounts, and her digital token had been used for 15 separate purchases to a YouTrip account.
Her transfer limits had allegedly been modified to allow larger transactions, and notifications were muted, making it difficult for her to notice the activity.
In addition, her emails were reportedly compromised.
Both her DBS accounts were emptied.
According to Vry, 'That's her life savings and she was planning to retire.' A police report has since been filed.
Vry warned others on Facebook and Instagram, especially those involved in hiking communities, to remain vigilant.
'Stay alert if you receive any links in your messengers,' she cautioned.
Other Facebook user reports near miss after refusing to share bank details with group admin
Comments on Vry's post included another Facebook user claiming a similar experience.
The user said the group admin asked her for payment details via a link. When she refused, the admin blocked her.
Local media outlet Stomp also covered the incident, reporting that photos used by 'Happy Strides' were taken from other hiking groups.
One image posted on 20 May had originally appeared on the Exploring Singapore Hiking Group page on 15 December 2024.
Legitimate hiking group distances itself, warns members of photo misuse by scam page
In response, the Exploring Singapore Hiking Group issued a clarification on 19 June 2025.
Its administrator accused 'Happy Strides' of using their photos without consent.
'We are NOT associated with 'Happy Strides' in any way.
This is a fraudulent group,' the group stated. They urged their members to be cautious and never to share personal or banking information without verification.
As of 19 June, the 'Happy Strides' Facebook group was no longer accessible.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
27 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Cyclist taken to hospital unconscious after accident with car in Bugis
In a video uploaded on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page, a cyclist is seen flying off his bicycle following a collision with a car. SCREENGRAB: SG ROAD VIGILANTE/FACEBOOK Cyclist taken to hospital unconscious after accident with car in Bugis SINGAPORE – A 41-year-old male cyclist was taken to hospital after an accident with a car in Bugis on the morning of June 19. The police were alerted to the accident at Victoria Street towards Kallang Road at 6.30am. In video footage of the accident uploaded on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page, a cyclist can be seen riding across one side of the junction. He appears to be going against a red traffic light. As he crosses the middle of the junction, a car comes into the frame, and the ensuing collision sends him flying off his bicycle. The cyclist was taken unconscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. A 44-year-old male car driver is assisting with police investigations. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
28 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Cyclist dies after accident with car in Bugis
A cyclist can be seen riding across one side of the junction, and appears to be going against a red traffic light. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM SG ROAD VIGILANTE - SGRV/FACEBOOK SINGAPORE - A 41-year-old cyclist who was taken to the hospital after an accident with a car in Bugis on the morning of June 19 has died. The Straits Times first reported about the accident on June 19. The cyclist died the next day, according to the police. The police said they were alerted to the accident at Victoria Street towards Kallang Road at 6.30am that day. In video footage of the accident uploaded on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page, a cyclist can be seen riding across one side of the junction. He appears to be going against a red traffic light. As he crosses the middle of the junction, a car comes into the frame, and the ensuing collision sends him flying off his bicycle. The cyclist was taken unconscious to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, where he later died, said the police and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. A 44-year-old male car driver is assisting with police investigations. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
82 people nabbed after anti-drug bust, more than $132k worth of drugs seized
82 people nabbed after anti-drug bust, more than $132k worth of drugs seized SINGAPORE – Eighty-two people were arrested after drugs worth more than $132,000 were seized in a five-day, islandwide operation. In a statement on June 21, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said that the anti-drug blitz took place from June 16 to 20, and covered areas like Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah, Changi, Punggol and Woodlands. A total of 1,307g of cannabis, 739g of heroin, 196g of Ice (methamphetamine), 52 cannabis seeds, two Ecstasy tablets, 2g of cannabis resin and 1g of cannabis-infused tablets were seized. The seized drugs were estimated to be able to feed the addiction of 640 abusers for a week, CNB added. The police responded to a call for assistance on June 14 at a residential unit in Punggol Central. They arrested a 35-year-old Singaporean man after searching the unit and finding substances believed to be controlled drugs and drug paraphernalia. CNB officers were alerted and took over the investigation of the drug offences. In another incident on June 16, CNB officers launched a drug bust in Yishun Avenue 6 after follow-up investigations. A 34-year-old Singaporean man was arrested after a search of a residential unit found a total of about 29g of cannabis and drug paraphernalia. Another follow-up operation later in the evening saw the arrest of two male foreign nationals in Moonstone Lane in Bendemeer – a 31-year-old for suspected drug trafficking offences and a 37-year-old for alleged drug consumption. A search of the 31-year-old's electric bicycle and his hideout in Bendemeer found a total of about 1,095g of cannabis, 19g of Ice, drug paraphernalia and cash amounting to $3,944. On June 18, officers arrested a 59-year-old Singaporean man for alleged drug trafficking in Bukit Merah, which was soon followed by the arrest of a 69-year-old Singaporean man in the vicinity for drug-related offences. A total of about 209g of heroin and 17g of Ice were seized from the 59-year-old man's place. Another man, a 62-year-old Singaporean , was nabbed in Yishun Avenue 4 for suspected drug trafficking. CNB officers had to force their way into his residential unit after the man refused to open the door. A search of the unit turned up about 247g of heroin and a small amount of Ice. Investigations into all the suspects arrested are ongoing. Anyone found guilty of trafficking more than 15g of diamorphine ('pure heroin') or 250g of methamphetamine or 500g of cannabis may face the mandatory death penalty. According to CNB's annual statistics report on Feb 12, there were 126 new drug abusers under the age of 20 arrested in 2024, with the youngest aged 13. This was nearly 30 per cent more than the 97 nabbed in 2023. New abusers totalled 966 in 2024, an increase from the 952 arrested in 2023. However, the number of repeat offenders arrested was 2,153 in 2024, down from 2,170 in 2023. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
