SINGAPORE – Recent arrests of individuals linked to scams in Singapore have not deterred some scammers from preying on elderly victims here.

The latest such case was uncovered last Tuesday (Aug 2), when staff at Maybank’s People’s Park Centre branch notified police about an elderly woman’s strange request to transfer $200,000 to a “friend” who she believed was having issues with immigration authorities overseas.

Police said in a statement on Monday (Aug 8) that the 72-year-old victim had been in contact with an unknown individual via Facebook and Whatsapp for more than five years.

She is believed to have already transferred the scammer a total of $75,000 in two separate transactions prior to police intervention.

The police eventually convinced her that she was a victim of a con job.

Read also: 11 scams that are happening in Singapore now

In its advisory, the police said that those who are approached to remit or transfer money to people they do not know well should exercise caution.

“The criminal can spend months building rapport with you online before asking for money,” the police said.

Netizens should also beware of doing things that would put them in a vulnerable position, such as performing compromising acts in front of a webcam or giving out their personal details.

Those who are approached for emergency help and money should not transfer money, but alert the police instead.

It is important to also safeguard one’s personal bank account against criminal use, the advisory added.

ljessica@sph.com.sg

Top 7 scams in Singapore and more

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Singaporeans around the world celebrated Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s meeting with US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama early last week but that was not all that they were pleased with.

Mr Lee’s wife, Ho Ching, had grabbed headlines and created an online frenzy because of her dinosaur-motif purse that she carried during the official arrival ceremony.

Both local and international media publications shone light on the blue pouch, specifically because it was designed by 19-year-old See Toh Sheng Jie, an autistic student from Pathlight School.

However, what some sellers on online selling platform Carousell did next was not the least bit celebratory.

Sharp-eyed netizens had spotted at least two sellers putting up the exact same dinosaur pouch that Ms Ho Ching had carried for sale.

One seller had posted a listing entitled ‘Stop The Profiteers’ regarding these two errant sellers on Saturday (Aug 6).

The seller said in his post that he was “glad” that the two accounts have disappeared.

The posts have since been taken down but the two clutches were apparently going at $22.80 and a preposterous $99, respectively.

Each pouch is originally priced at $14.80.

By the time word got round that Ms Ho’s pouch was designed by the dinosaur-loving teen, it had already been completely sold out and was only available for pre-order on Pathlight’s online store.

The school had reportedly sold all 200 bags it had in stock within a day.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg