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NCPC and Police launch commercials to highlight rise in scams

SINGAPORE – The National Crime Prevention Council and the Singapore Police Force are launching today (23 May) the first of three television commercials as part of a nationwide anti-scam public education campaign.

Screengrab of the National Crime Prevention Council and Singapore Police Force's anti-scam commercial.

Screengrab of the National Crime Prevention Council and Singapore Police Force's anti-scam commercial.

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SINGAPORE – The National Crime Prevention Council and the Singapore Police Force are launching today (23 May) the first of three television commercials as part of a nationwide anti-scam public education campaign.

This is part of an ongoing move to combat the recent rise in cheating cases. Crime rate statistics released by the Police in January put the number of cases last year at 32,196 - a 7.4 per cent increase from 29,984 cases in 2013.

The commercial covers cyber extortion and lottery scams, and aims to remind the public on how scammers often manipulate victims’ emotions, desires and weaknesses to make such online transactions successful. Such scams are among the top 10 in Singapore, and have seen significant increases recently.

Statistics show reported cyber extortion scam cases rose 138 per cent, from 108 in 2013 to 257 in 2014. Lottery scams increased by 43 per cent, from 213 in 2013 to 304 in 2014.

The first commercial will be broadcast on Channel 5 and Channel 8 in English and Mandarin. The other two commercials will cover money mules and online purchase scams, and will be rolled out later this year.

Speaking at the launch event at Jurong Spring Community Club today, Chairman of the National Crime Prevention Council Tan Kian Hoon said that unlike traditional crimes such as housebreaking and shop theft, which can be stopped or prevented by passers-by or the police, scams were much harder to detect.

“Crooks can easily make use of the convenience and anonymity of the Internet to commit their illicit activities, he said. “Sometimes, scammers would patiently take weeks or months to build trust in their victims before finding the right time to strike.” CHANNEL NEWSASIA

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