The Police and National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) wish to remind the public to stay vigilant, and not let crimes ruin their festive mood when they are out doing their shopping and enjoying their celebrations during the upcoming festive period.
Crime Concerns
During this period, the Police have observed a higher number of outrage of modesty cases, and e-commerce scams which may involve sellers from overseas. The number of cases reported from October to December 2017 are as follows:
|
|
2017 |
||||
|
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
TOTAL |
|
|
E-Commerce Scams |
386 |
422 |
473 |
626 |
1,907 |
|
Outrage of Modesty |
321 |
364 |
449 |
427 |
1,561 |
Crime Prevention Initiative
Launch of “Let’s Fight Scams!” Campaign
Ms Sun Xueling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development launched the “Let’s Fight Scams!” campaign on 9 November 2018 at the Ang Mo Kio Central Stage.
This campaign calls upon the community and organisations to rally together for a united fight against scams, by pledging their support for this campaign. Members of the public can pledge via www.scamalert.sg/fight to:
a. Stay vigilant
Those who pledge their support for this campaign will receive regular alerts on scams and anti-scam tips from the NCPC and the Police.
b. Protect their loved ones
Those who pledge their support for this campaign are encouraged to share the anti-scam tips and scam-related news with their family and friends.
The campaign focuses on the four types of scams - internet love scam, impersonation scam, e-commerce scam and loan scam – which are of concern to the Police and NCPC.
The NCPC and the Police will also be using various communications channels to raise awareness of the “Let’s Fight Scams” campaign.
Chairman of NCPC, Mr Gerald Singham, said, “With all of us onboard this campaign, I believe that we can win this war against scams. It’s time that all of us stand up against the criminals and protect our loved ones from them. The simple act of sharing scam alerts might just help to stop someone from the trauma of losing his or her hard-earned savings. So I strongly urge everyone to pledge your support for this campaign.”
Recognising the Support from Organisations
To reiterate the importance which organisations play in the fight against scams, the NCPC have presented tokens of appreciation to five remittance companies - AAA Money Pte Ltd, Hanshan Money Express Pte Ltd, Samlit Money Changer Pte Ltd, Wealthgate International and Zhongguo Remittance Pte Ltd - which had helped to stop their customers from losing over $400,000 to scams in the first three quarters of 2018.
Crime Prevention Roadshow – Incorporating the Use of Technology
In conjunction with the launch, the NCPC will also be holding a three-day roadshow at the Ang Mo Kio Central Stage. There will be games and exhibits at the roadshow to help educate the public on scams.
A virtual reality (VR) game which educates the public on common scams will also be featured for the very first time.
To complement the VR game, there will also be interactive exhibition panels with interesting games about scams.
Crime Prevention Advisory
The Police would like to reiterate the importance of staying vigilant and encourage members of the public to adopt the following crime prevention measures during this festive season.
E-Commerce Scams
- Buy or sell items online only with those that you know and trust;
- Check the seller’s track record by reading reviews or contacting previous customers;
- Where advance payments are required, use shopping platforms that only release your payment upon receipt of item;
- Never give your bank account numbers, credit card numbers and personal information to strangers; and
- Insist on cash on delivery and arrange for a physical meet-up with the seller to verify the authenticity of the goods prior to making payment
Outrage of Modesty
- Be aware of your surroundings and stay alert to any suspicious person(s);
- Avoid walking through dimly-lit and secluded places or taking the lift with a stranger;
- Have someone escort you home when returning alone late at night;
- Carry along with you a shrill alarm;
- When taking public transport, be alert and attentive to your surroundings. Where possible, move away if someone stands or sits exceptionally close to you;
- If you are molested, call for help immediately by shouting, seek help from people nearby to increase the chances of apprehending the culprit early. Call ‘999’ as soon as possible.
The public is also reminded to be considerate to others when celebrating the year-end festivities in public areas and to avoid doing anything that may cause annoyance or compromise the safety of others. Police would not hesitate to take action against any person who commits crime or to cause nuisance to the general public under the guise of festivities.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
09 November 2018 @ 7:50 PM