Electricity and gas tariffs will increase from April to June amid rising fuel prices due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.Grid operator SP Group said in a statement on Tuesday (March 31) that household electricity tariffs will increase by 2.1 per cent from the previous quarter to 29.72 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) after Goods and Services Tax.This means that the average monthly electricity bill for four-room HDB flats will increase by $1.96.Checks by AsiaOne on the Open Electricity Market’s price comparison website showed that fixed-price retail plans for residences currently ranged between 28.80 cents and 29.18 cents per kWh.Meanwhile, City Energy said that gas tariff will increase from April to June, from 23.63 cents per kWh to 23.89 cents per kWh, attributing the hike to the Middle East war which began on Feb 28.«The town gas tariffs in the subsequent quarters are expected to increase further as the full effect of the elevated fuel prices are incorporated,» said City Energy.

More than one million Singaporean HDB households will receive U-Save and Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates in April as part of the permanent GST Voucher scheme. In a statement released on Tuesday (March 31), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said the rebates will help to offset utilities expenses and S&CC for lower- and middle-income HDB households. Eligible households will receive up to $190 in U-Save rebates and up to one month of S&CC rebates in April, depending on their flat type, the ministry added. The U-Save rebates amount for April and July 2026 will include the additional U-Save rebates announced during Budget 2026.In total, households can receive up to $570 in U-Save rebates and 3.5 months of S&CC rebates.  The rebates are disbursed quarterly in April, July, October, and January each year, with the April payout marking the first quarterly disbursement for 2026. 

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has flagged social media companies X and TikTok for «serious weaknesses» in proactively detecting and removing egregiously harmful content.The two firms did not adequately act against the child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEM) and terrorism content uploaded to the respective platforms, said IMDA on Tuesday (March 31).The industry regulator issued letters of caution to the two social media services to place them both under enhanced supervision.The warning requires them to regularly provide updates on implementing rectification measures, which is enhancing their automated detection systems to flag violations.The Code of Practice for Online Safety - Social Media Services requires designated social media services to proactively detect and swiftly remove CSEM and terrorism content before they are viewed by users.In its Online Safety Assessment Report in 2025, IMDA identified 73 cases of CSEM that originated from or targeted Singapore users on X, up from 33 in 2024.On TikTok, 17 cases of terrorism content shared by Singapore-based accounts were found.

China-headquartered oil and chemical company Sinopec caught up on the diesel surge, raising its posted price for diesel by 21 cents on Tuesday (March 31) morning.Its move follows that of Shell's 20-cent diesel hike over the weekend, and that of Caltex, Esso and SPC on Monday. As with the other major fuel companies in Singapore, Sinopec kept its petrol prices unchanged.Diesel prices here first started to surpass the price of 95-octane petrol on March 12 with Caltex and Shell raising their respective posted price for diesel to $3.38.On that day, the price of 95-octane petrol was recorded at $3.35 at both fuel companies.Following the latest round of diesel hike by Sinopec, the price of diesel now ranges from $3.92 at SPC to $4.13 at Caltex, Esso and Shell.

Ride-hailing operator Grab will implement a temporary adjustment, adding 40 cents to its existing 50-cent fuel surcharge, to help its drivers cope with the ongoing fuel price volatility.This was announced on Tuesday (March 31) as Grab introduced a $1.1 million driver-partner support package to help drivers cope with increased daily operating costs.Grab said its existing 50-cent «driver fee», introduced during earlier periods of elevated fuel prices, will be renamed as a single «fuel surcharge» line item.This means that its passengers will now see a 90-cent line item named «fuel surcharge» in their post-trip receipt.The move, which will entirely go to Grab's driver-partners, does not apply to standard and metered taxi rides.A Grab spokesperson said: "We know that every dollar in the daily budget is being stretched right now, and we don't take the impact of even a small adjustment lightly. 

A woman was reportedly charged $1,500 for using 222GB of local mobile data, but says there is no way she could have exceeded her plan's monthly data bundle by twice.M1 customer Anna Huang (transliteration) told Shin Min Daily News that she pays $25.42 monthly for her phone plan, which includes 100 gigabytes (GB) of local data.On Feb 16, the woman reportedly received a text message from M1 informing her about additional charges of $795.91.When she called the customer service hotline, a representative confirmed the charges but purportedly declined to share details of the data usage as the bill had not been generated.Huang said she switched off data roaming on her phone after the call.When she checked her February phone bill in early March, the woman was stunned to see the receipt state that she had exceeded her local data usage limit by 122GB.Including the price of her monthly plan and GST, her total bill came up to $1516.13, according to Shin Min.

Singaporeans should brace for a period of «higher and more volatile energy costs» as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to severely strain global fuel supply chains. In a statement on Tuesday (March 31), the Energy Market Authority (EMA) warned that while regulated tariffs for electricity and town gas in the second quarter of 2026 have only been partially impacted, subsequent quarters are likely to see sharper increases in price. As a small city-state, Singapore heavily relies on energy imports, with approximately 95 per cent of electricity produced from imported natural gas. This same fuel serves as the primary feedstock for town gas production, meaning any global price surge directly translates to higher utility bills for every consumer across the island. The current regulatory framework determines tariffs based on average fuel costs in the first 2.5 months of the preceding quarter. This means calculations for the April to June period were based on prices from January to mid-March.As natural gas prices only began to climb after Feb 28, the full weight of the crisis has not yet been felt by households.

An elderly man was apprehended after locking himself inside his Clementi HDB flat on Monday (March 30) afternoon.Photos of the incident shared on Threads showed police cordoning off an HDB block, while SCDF officers deployed a yellow airbag. Several SCDF and police vehicles were also present at the scene.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the police said they received a call for assistance at Block 358 Clementi Avenue 2 at about 11.20am.Upon arrival, it was established that a 79-year-old man had locked himself inside a residential unit.Based on the police's assessment that the man might pose a danger to himself, officers from the Special Operations Command, the Crisis Negotiation Unit, and the SCDF were deployed to the scene.Police officers subsequently managed to gain entry into the man's unit at 1.50pm. 

A man accused of making prank calls to the police and throwing eggs at responding police officers was brought back to the scene of his alleged crime just after 10am on Tuesday (March 31) morning.Davin Lian Ke Xiang, 28, is also accused of making at least 18 prank calls reporting criminal activities, which turned out to be false.On three separate occasions — March 15, March 21, and March 22 — he allegedly threw eggs at responding officers after they got out of their police vehicles at Block 296 Punggol Central.The calls were made through a mobile phone line fraudulently obtained using a lost identity card.Lian was wearing a white collared T-shirt, black shorts and a mask covering his entire face as he was brought to the crime scene. He was also taken up to the fifth floor at one point, and he later spent about 10 minutes answering questions from investigators.Throughout the morning, Lian was seen avoiding eye contact by hanging his head low.He will return to court on Wednesday (April 1), where he will be charged with vandalism.

A 23-year-old man was arrested on Sunday (March 29) for allegedly stealing a motorcycle parked at a carpark in the Marina Bay area.The incident happened at about 8.10am at a carpark along Bayfront Avenue. Checks by AsiaOne indicate that the alleged crime is likely to have happened at the Marina Bay open carpark. At least three areas have been allocated for motorcycle parking in the said carpark. Map showing the Marina Bay open carpark along Bayfront Avenue. INFOGRAPHIC: AsiaOne (Images and Map from Google Maps) Officers from Central Police Division established the identity of the man within 15 hours of the report. This was done through ground enquiries and with the aid of police cameras and closed circuit television (CCTV).

A fire broke out at a shophouse restaurant in Little India on Monday (March 30) night.The incident happened at about 8.10pm at 10 Roberts Lane. Map showing the location of the fire incident at 10 Roberts Lane. INFOGRAPHIC: AsiaOne/Shafiq Apandi Checks by AsiaOne indicate that the said location is the registered address of Bar B Q Tonight, a Pakistani cuisine restaurant.When AsiaOne reached the scene at about 9pm, there were at least three fire engines, two police fast response cars and an ambulance present.A police cordon in place around the affected shophouse unit stretched across three units. 

Yeo Hiap Seng, also known as Yeo's, has laid off 25 employees at its Senoko facility in Singapore, the company announced on Tuesday (March 31).Yeo's stressed that it is «fully committed» to aiding the 25 employees with job placement assistance, career guidance and counselling support. «Wherever possible, opportunities for open roles within Yeo's Malaysia will be offered,» the company said, adding that the retrenched workers will receive benefits commensurate with each of their salaries and years of service.Yeo's has also worked closely with the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union to ensure that the retrenchment package and support provided reflect appreciation for the contributions of the affected staff, the company stated.It explained that these retrenchments are part of a streamlining of operations to consolidate can manufacturing in Malaysia, which enables the Group's Johor and Selangor facilities to optimise utilisation of resources and improve manufacturing efficiency.

Cotton On has no plans to exit the Asia region, the retail company said in a statement released on March 31.A Cotton On spokesperson said: “There have been misleading media reports suggesting that Cotton On stores operating in Asia are being closed, this information is incorrect and we have no plans to exit the Asia region.”The statement added that Cotton On Asia, the liquidated entity, does not and has never operated any stores or employed team members. It was an inactive holding company that is no longer required.“This has no impact on customers, teams, stores, suppliers or operations within the Asia region,” Cotton On said.A notice published in the Government Gazette on March 30, stated that Cotton On Asia was to undergo voluntary liquidation, and that liquidators from PwC Singapore were appointed to wind up the business.But checks on the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority website on March 30 showed that a second entity, Cotton On Singapore, is still operating as a retail business providing clothing for adults.

Australian fashion and lifestyle retailer Cotton On is set to close its business in Singapore.According to a Government Gazette notice on Monday (March 30), liquidators from PwC Singapore were appointed to wind up Cotton On Asia.The announcement comes after almost 10 years of operations in Singapore, when its first store opened at Wisma Atria in 2007.Cotton On’s website currently lists more than 30 stores in Singapore.Brands under Cotton On that are available in Singapore are Cotton On, Cotton On Body, Cotton On Kids, stationery brand Typo and shoe brand Rubi.[[nid:731636]]chingshijie@asiaone.com

The Lions are all set to sign off the final game of the Asian Cup qualification with a flourish when they take on Bangladesh in their last Group C qualifier at the National Stadium on Tuesday (March 31).The home team booked their place in the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia with a 2-1 away win against Hong Kong in November, grabbing the top spot in the group.Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Monday, coach Gavin Lee said the focus remains on performance.«I guess I think first and foremost, boys are all very focused putting out a performance out there tomorrow night.»In Hong Kong, we played in a stadium full of red, but it wasn't our red. Tomorrow, we have a chance to play in our stadium with our red supporting us. «And I heard there's a big crowd coming, and I think that is something we should never take for granted, and that thats something that i think motivates a lot of players, because how often do you get this kind of experience and opportunity?»He said the team remain grounded after their result in Hong Kong.

As firefighters in Malaysia continue to battle raging forest fires exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions, smoke plumes have been drifting towards Singapore due to the prevailing northeast winds, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).In an update published at about 7pm on Monday (March 30), the agency shared a satellite image taken at 2pm.The image shows two areas on fire — a forested area off Jalan Tanjong Balau-Sedili Kechil highway in Bandar Benawar and another at a forested area in Sedili Kechil. Both locations are located in Johor's Kota Tinggi.

The police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of a 19-year-old male, Mohamed Fareed Gab Andrei.In a news release published on Monday (March 30), the police said he was last seen in the vicinity of Block 807 Tampines Avenue 4 at about 3pm on Sunday.The said address is part of a HDB precinct located across the road from Temasek Polytechnic. Those with information are urged to contact the police hotline at 999 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness. All information will be kept strictly confidential, the police said.[[nid:732459]]editor@asiaone.com 

Eight Singaporean taxi drivers, aged between 47 and 74, were arrested on Monday (March 30) for allegedly bribing Malaysian law enforcement officers on the Causeway. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) said in a statement that the drivers, operating under the cross-border taxi scheme, did so to avoid enforcement action for driving along the bus lane.Investigations are ongoing for alleged offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act.Anyone convicted of corruption faces a fine of up to $100,000 and up to five years' jail, or both.Singapore adopts a strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption, CPIB said, adding that it will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against any parties involved in such activities.[[nid:732546]]chingshijie@asiaone.com

A netizen has raised alarm over a «severe bed bug infestation» in Ang Mo Kio, claiming to have been bitten more than 20 times.In a video posted in Facebook group Complaint Singapore today (March 30), several insects are seen crawling around the insides of a seating area outside AMK Hub near a McDonald's outlet.«In between the wooden slats, there is a severe bed bug infestation. Please don't sit there... Hope you don't bring any home,» captioned the post. The user claimed he was bitten over 20 times on his buttocks in just a few minutes, noting that older people were also present, sitting and lying in the area. In response to AsiaOne's queries, a spokesperson of the Ang Mo Kio Town Council said: «Our property team conducted checks with our pest control operator this morning and confirmed that the insects observed were cockroaches, not bed bugs.»Treatment is currently in progress, and we will continue to monitor the area closely to maintain a clean and comfortable environment for residents and visitors." 

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.1. MOE appoints 4 student care operators to replace Little Professors Learning CentreThe Ministry of Education (MOE) has appointed four student care operators to replace Little Professors Learning Centre whose contract was terminated last month... » READ MORE2. Motorcyclist dies after accident in Yishun, driver arrested for allegedly driving under influence of drugs

Two neighbourhood police centres (NPCs) in the planning areas of Bukit Timah and Kallang will merge on May 25, the police announced on Monday (March 30).The merger, involving Kampong Java NPC and Bukit Timah NPC, is part of the transformation of frontline operations to better address evolving security challenges and community needs, the police said.Following the merger, Kampong Java NPC will be retained — as a larger operational base — while Bukit Timah NPC will be renovated before re-opening as Dunearn neighbourhood police post (NPP) by the fourth quarter of 2027.«The merging of NPCs aim to optimise limited police resources by combining smaller NPCs serving adjacent areas into a larger operational base,» the police said.They expect the merger to enhance their deployment flexibility, while improving operational effectiveness.«The community policing unit in the merged NPC can organise larger scale community policing events.»The merged crime strike force will also have better coordination and control in dealing with more complex crimes and incidents," the police explained.

A 67-year-old man disguised himself as a construction worker before breaking into a coffee shop in MacPherson to steal cash.Murugaian Kandasamy, a Singaporean, was sentenced to four years' jail on March 27 after pleading guilty to the crime.On the night of Jan 8, Kandasamy had unlawfully entered the coffee shop at Block 76 Circuit Road by cutting a padlock securing the rear door.According to court documents, the man took $2,830 from the beverage stall and another $50 from the mixed rice stall.Investigations found that Kandasamy had patronised the coffee shop several times in May 2025 and noticed the two stalls did not have CCTV cameras, reported Lianhe Zaobao.Unable to pay his rent because of financial difficulties, he reportedly decided to steal from the coffee shop.At about 9pm, Kandasamy arrived at the coffee shop with housebreaking tools, including a crowbar.Seeing that the stalls had yet to close, he waited nearby and changed into a long-sleeved shirt, reflective vest, yellow helmet and a face covering.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has appointed four student care operators to replace Little Professors Learning Centre whose contract was terminated last month. In the statement on Monday (March 30), the ministry said that the operators are: Learning Studio Educare, Principals Academy Inc, Young Men’s Christian Association of Singapore and Nascans.They will start operating from April 6 to provide after-school care services for 1,800 pupils in the eight affected primary schools, as well as Kindergarten Care (KCare) services in six of them.  The move comes after Little Professors’ contract was terminated on Feb 14 following complaints from employees about unpaid salaries and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions since November 2025.The private operator ran student care centres in eight primary schools: Anchor Green, Jing Shan, Kranji, Punggol Cove, Waterway, Westwood, Hong Wen and White Sands.The ministry said: "Staff at the affected schools had stepped up to ensure the continuity of after-school care.

Those who have plans to travel to Malaysia over the coming weekend can expect heavy traffic at both Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. Both the Good Friday (April 3) long weekend and Qing Ming day (April 5) take place over this weekend. Qing Ming is also known as Tomb Sweeping Day or Chinese All Souls' Day. In an advisory issued on Monday (March 30), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) told motorists that it has stepped up security checks on arriving travellers, cargo and conveyances at all land checkpoints. This is due to the heightened global security situation, including recent developments in the Middle East.«Travellers are to expect longer waiting times to clear immigration and are advised to check the traffic situation at the land checkpoints before embarking on their journey,» ICA said. They can also use the QR code clearance for more convenience.Those who need to travel during the peak periods can also consider taking the cross-border bus services to avoid congestion.

An SBS Transit bus caught fire while travelling along the Tampines Expressway (TPE) on Monday (March 30). A video of the incident shared on TikTok showed the rear of the bus engulfed in flames, with a man seen using a fire extinguisher. Thick black smoke could also be seen billowing into the air.Responding to queries from AsiaOne, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to a fire along TPE towards Seletar Expressway (SLE) after the Tampines Avenue 10 exit at about 6.50am. SCDF added that the fire involved the engine compartment of the bus and was extinguished using a water jet.No one was injured, and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation. 

A man swiped $1,000 worth of necklaces from a jewellery stall in Woodlands when the stall owner went for a quick toilet break. In response to AsiaOne's queries, the police said they were alerted to a case of theft at Block 303 Woodlands Street 31 on March 24 at 11.30am.A shop assistant at a nearby hardware store, identified as Ding, told Shin Min Daily News that the jewellery stall owner had gone to the restroom and covered the goods with a cloth.  When the owner returned some five minutes later and checked the inventory, the owner found that five silver necklaces, amounting to about $1,000, were missing, reported the Chinese daily. The owner then called the police and asked Ding for CCTV footage. In a video posted by Instagram account @sgfollowsall on March 27, CCTV footage shows a man dressed in a white shirt and black trousers loitering near a temporarily unmanned stall. He can be seen hovering around the table, covered in a blue sheet of plastic, before lifting the sheet and grabbing a handful of what appears to be the stolen necklaces. 

It's official — diesel now costs nearly as much as premium petrol — at least at Shell. In a price board update published at 2pm on Saturday (March 28), British multinational oil and gas company Shell announced a 20-cent increase in its posted price for diesel, raising it from $3.93 to $4.13.The price is just one cent lower than its premium V-Power petrol, priced at $4.14.In hiking diesel prices, Shell, which led the first downward adjustment of pump charges in nearly three weeks on March 25, now reverses the trend it started.It has also become the first to push diesel prices here past both the $3 and $4 mark.On March 10, Shell took its diesel price past the $3 mark with a 26-cent increase — from $2.98 on March 9, to $3.24.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested for careless driving causing death after a 74-year-old woman died following a traffic accident in Ang Mo Kio on Saturday (March 28) evening.The Singapore Police Force told AsiaOne they were alerted to an accident involving a car and a pedestrian on March 28 at about 7.05pm, along Ang Mo Kio Street 31 towards Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6.The pedestrian was conveyed unconscious to the hospital, where she later died.In response to AsiaOne's queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said it conveyed one person to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.Police investigations are ongoing.A photo of the aftermath of the accident circulating online shows an ambulance at the scene, with a person lying in the middle of the road.A similar incident occurred less than two weeks ago on March 17, where a 66-year-old pedestrian died after a car hit her before mounting a road verge along Bencoolen Street.The 55-year-old male car driver was arrested for careless driving causing death.[[nid:728432]]

Four years after his nose cancer diagnosis, Minister of State for Transport Baey Yam Keng says he is grateful that he is in good health, especially after a recent scare. In a Facebook post on Saturday (March 28), Baey shared that he has been undergoing annual scans since completing radiation therapy to monitor his health.However, late last December, the minister said his CT scan had shown a small abnormality on the right side of his nose. «My oncologist thought it might be linked to a flu I caught during a recent trip, but referred me to an ear and nose specialist just to be safe,» said Baey, who is also Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth. He added that a follow-up scope in February showed nothing concerning, but to be certain, he underwent another magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in March. 

It's official — diesel now costs nearly as much as premium petrol — at least at Shell. In a price board update published at 2pm on Saturday (March 28), British multinational oil and gas company Shell announced a 20-cent increase in its posted price for diesel, raising it from $3.93 to $4.13.The price is just one-cent lower than its premium V-Power petrol, priced at $4.14In hiking diesel prices, Shell, which led the first downward adjustment of pump charges in nearly three weeks on March 25, now reverses the trend it started.It has also become the first to push diesel prices here past both the $3 and $4 mark.On March 10, Shell took its diesel price past the $3 mark with a 26-cent increase — from $2.98 on March 9, to $3.24.

Three hours into the night flight, air force transport pilot Gerald Goh saw a single projectile in the distance.«The initial reaction was a sense of shock,» the 31-year-old pilot told AsiaOne in an interview on Friday (March 27). «But we assessed, as a crew, that it was from a distance… and we determined it was safe to continue with the mission.»The mission — on March 10 — was to bring home 218 stranded Singaporeans and their dependents on board the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) first military evacuation flight from Saudi Arabia.While the projectile — fired within Middle Eastern airspace during an ongoing war — was assessed not to have targetted his A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), Captain Goh said the incident underscored the real risks faced by the flight crew.

The Government will act decisively when it comes across instances of foreigners inciting Singaporeans to break the law and use violence, said Coordinating Minister for National Security K Shanmugam on Saturday (March 28).Shanmugam, who is also Minister for Home Affairs, also reiterated that the Government will not tolerate interference by foreigners in Singapore's politics — a position which it has consistently upheld since independence. «It is an absolute no. That position has not changed — and it will be firmly enforced,» he added.He was commenting on his Facebook about the case of Malaysian activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, who was banned from Singapore. In his post, Shanmugam pointed out that Fadiah had encouraged local activists in Singapore to adopt her brand of radical advocacy. «When people attempt to interfere in this manner, we will act decisively. »It does not matter whether the instigator is Singaporean, Malaysian, or any other foreign national," the minister wrote.

A prolonged crisis in the Middle East could have a significant impact on supply chains and energy markets, which will in turn have a «huge impact» for the global economy and on Singapore, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.Speaking to the media on Saturday (March 28) as he wrapped up his visit to Hong Kong, PM Wong was asked if the government is planning to roll out measures to cushion the impact of rising prices amidst energy shortages. Acknowledging public concerns, PM Wong assured Singaporeans that the Government is monitoring the situation closely and planning ahead.«A lot of concerns are about the price impact, and I can fully understand the concerns, but we are also concerned about what might happen if the situation in the Middle East continues for a prolonged period of time, or even escalates, and the Strait of Hormuz continues to be blocked for prolonged stretch because then the impact of such a prolonged crisis is not just going to be about higher and elevated prices,» he said.

If you have applied for long-term immigration facilities such as permanent residency and received a letter and tax invoice to pay a fee, do not make any payment. In a news release on Saturday (March 28), the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said it was alerted to a fake letter and tax invoice that were received by an applicant. According to ICA, the “documents” bore its letterhead and a signature of an officer allegedly from the authority. The applicant later received the fake letter and invoice asking for a certain fee to be paid to proceed with the application. Checks by ICA revealed that the applicant had engaged a commercial entity to assist with a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) application for a total fee of about $5,000. The authority also found that no application had been submitted on behalf of the person. Applicants should apply directly to ICAICA also revealed that they have been alerted to 12 similar cases since January.

When the police told sisters Faith and Sarah Phua in April 2025 that their 75-year-old mother wanted to transfer $67,000 to an unknown account, they were shocked.They confronted their mother, who admitted she wanted to send the money to tech billionaire Elon Musk, whom she believed needed help saving his company from ruin.They were horrified to later learn that since 2022, their mother had been fooled by scammers who used artificial intelligence to impersonate Musk to talk to her.Over three years, the elderly woman transferred $600,000 to the scammers.The sisters spoke to The Straits Times at the Police Cantonment Complex in New Bridge Road on March 24.Sarah Phua, 45, said: “My mum said Elon Musk needed her money to help his business as it was losing money. That was when we knew she had been brainwashed.”