The affected information comprised the customer names, identification and mobile numbers and account balances of Chinese nationals. Their bank account numbers were not disclosed, however, the lender said.

United Overseas Bank is working with Singapore police to investigate how information about 1,166 of its clients was disclosed by scammers.

The information comprised customer names, identification and mobile numbers and account balances of Chinese nationals. Their bank account numbers were not disclosed, however, Singapore-based UOB said in a statement.

“Preliminary findings show that a UOB employee had allegedly fallen prey to a China police impersonation scam and had been deceived into disclosing the information of these Chinese nationals with Singapore-based accounts,” the bank said. The lender is working with Singapore police on the matter.

UOB said that it has written to all affected customers and has taken several precautionary measures to protect them as they may be targeted by scammers. 

These measures include immediately disabling their internet and mobile banking access; advising them on resetting their digital banking access and how to protect themselves from scams; stepping up account monitoring of affected accounts; setting an SMS alert threshold of $1 for any online funds transfers; posting scam protection notices on the login pages of UOB Personal Internet Banking and UOB Mighty; and posting a public education notice on its social media channels.

“We expect the highest standards of professional conduct from our people at all times as part of maintaining the trust our customers place in us. The employee involved in this matter has been suspended and is assisting the police with their investigations,” the bank added.