A 90-year-old woman lost $500,000 to scammers over the course of a year after reconnecting with two long-lost friends. These individuals, aged 53 and 56, contacted her frequently and showed detailed interest in her life to gain her trust.
In early 2024, the pair began borrowing money from her, claiming they faced “cryptocurrency investment failure and cash flow problems.” The loans increased from $20,000 per transaction to $300,000, which she transferred without hesitation.
Last November, they visited again seeking $100,000. During this visit, they introduced a man through video call who claimed to be an overseas law enforcement officer who could help recover lost funds. This individual instructed her to open a new account and transfer $100,000.
The woman’s nephew, John, became suspicious and contacted Singapore’s 1799 ScamShield Helpline. Staff there identified the situation as a scam and advised John to convince his aunt to stop lending money and report the case to police. After persistent warnings from John, his aunt reported the case.
In a separate case, a 27-year-old man named Aidil prevented his 63-year-old father from falling victim to a police impersonation scam. His father, a security guard, received a call from someone claiming to be a bank employee reporting a $4,000 charge to a credit card he didn’t own.
The caller transferred him to a fake police officer who instructed him to isolate himself in his room and avoid contact with anyone. Aidil noticed something was wrong and contacted the ScamShield Helpline. Staff member Felicia Ng, 39, spent over an hour counseling his father and helped him recognize the scam.
“My father is nearing retirement. To have a scammer come close to getting his life savings is scary, and I’m glad it did not happen,” Aidil said.
The 1799 ScamShield Helpline receives about 500 calls daily, with peak times during lunch breaks and after work hours. Staff continuously update their knowledge on the latest scam methods.
Ms. Ng explained that scammers often gain trust by impersonating official agencies. Their tactics include using “sensitive cases” as excuses to maintain secrecy, requesting personal information like ID cards and bank details, and applying psychological pressure through lengthy calls and stern tones.
