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SINGAPORE: In the fight against increasingly sophisticated scams, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) launched a new anti-scam helpline on Sunday (Nov 20) to give advice to the public on such ploys, should they suspect that they have fallen for one.
The anti-scam hotline number, manned by the NCPC, is 1800 722 6688. It operates from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
They have also launched a new anti-scam television commercial - the fourth to date - to raise even greater awareness of such scams. Starring local celebrity Li Nanxing, it highlights how impersonation scams, internet love scams and credit-for-sex scams are carried out in Singapore.
It shares three simple points with viewers when it comes to dealing with such scams - not to panic, not to believe the scammers words, and not to give in to the demands.
The Police said it forms part of continuing outreach efforts to raise awareness of such scams, which according to latest figures still remain high. For example, reported scams involving the impersonation of China Officials stands at 249 in the three months from July to September 2016 - higher than the 179 cases reported for the period between January and June this year.
NCPC Vice-Chairman Gerald Singham said Singapore residents tend to be trusting, which lends itself to being exploited by scammers.
"Indeed it is a battle and a challenge that we have on our hands, but even more so we've got to try to create education and awareness in our residents - we cannot give up. And indeed it is worrying - we have something like about 22 victims reporting scams a day, losing about S$120,000 a day. That's a lot, and a dollar too many," said Mr Singham.
"We cannot stop, we cannot retreat - we need to create that awareness and education, and we're hopeful and encouraged that eventually these education protocols will come up, and then through word-of-mouth through friends, through families and even through the Internet where education can also take place, to guard against such unscrupulous scammers."
The TV commercial and anti-scam hotline were both launched at the annual Festive Season Crime Prevention Campaign at Rivervale Plaza. In attendance was Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ad-in-the-fight-against-scammers/3304164.html
The anti-scam hotline number, manned by the NCPC, is 1800 722 6688. It operates from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
They have also launched a new anti-scam television commercial - the fourth to date - to raise even greater awareness of such scams. Starring local celebrity Li Nanxing, it highlights how impersonation scams, internet love scams and credit-for-sex scams are carried out in Singapore.
It shares three simple points with viewers when it comes to dealing with such scams - not to panic, not to believe the scammers words, and not to give in to the demands.
The Police said it forms part of continuing outreach efforts to raise awareness of such scams, which according to latest figures still remain high. For example, reported scams involving the impersonation of China Officials stands at 249 in the three months from July to September 2016 - higher than the 179 cases reported for the period between January and June this year.
NCPC Vice-Chairman Gerald Singham said Singapore residents tend to be trusting, which lends itself to being exploited by scammers.
"Indeed it is a battle and a challenge that we have on our hands, but even more so we've got to try to create education and awareness in our residents - we cannot give up. And indeed it is worrying - we have something like about 22 victims reporting scams a day, losing about S$120,000 a day. That's a lot, and a dollar too many," said Mr Singham.
"We cannot stop, we cannot retreat - we need to create that awareness and education, and we're hopeful and encouraged that eventually these education protocols will come up, and then through word-of-mouth through friends, through families and even through the Internet where education can also take place, to guard against such unscrupulous scammers."
The TV commercial and anti-scam hotline were both launched at the annual Festive Season Crime Prevention Campaign at Rivervale Plaza. In attendance was Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ad-in-the-fight-against-scammers/3304164.html
