In Perspective

6 in 10 People in Singapore Have Encountered a Scam – Don’t Fall for the Scammers’ Tricks!

Home Team

SPF

16 February 2021

How to avoid getting scammed – a handy pictorial guide.

"6 in 10 people in Singapore" graphic with a scammer using a laptop.

GRAPHIC: Home Team News

Scams can take all forms, from robo-calls to the proverbial deal that’s just too good to be true. And scams have become more common lately as we carry out more of our daily transactions online.

This week, the Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre (HTBSC) shared the findings from its National Prevalence Survey of Scams. Conducted online between August and September 2020, the survey garnered responses from 4,043 Singaporean citizens and Permanent Residents, which helped HTBSC to learn more about the attitudes and behaviours that make us more vulnerable to scams. Here are the top takeaways!

Infographic about scamming risks, statistics, and traits with scammer icon and surprised person icon.

Infographic: Online safety tips, including password security and avoiding suspicious links.

Informational graphic: "It pays to be a healthy sceptic" with tips, fingerprint graphic and cartoon character.

Info graphic: "Practise the six S's of being safe online" with steps to avoid scams.

Anti-scam tips: purple graphic with a crossed-out laptop; three bullet points; cartoon people say 'I check with you'

Keeping Singapore Safe and Secure in 2020

According to the Singapore Police Force (SPF), overall crime in 2020 increased by 6.5% due to a rise in scam cases. In particular, online scams saw a significant increase as Singaporeans carried out more online transactions due to the COVID-19 situation. Excluding scams, the total number of reported crimes decreased by 15.3%.

Infographic showing crime statistics in Singapore, including scam types and amounts cheated in 2019-2020.

GRAPHIC: SPF

Check out SPF’s Crime Brief 2020.

Anti-scam Tool-kit

Your essential one-stop guide to fighting scams: ScamAlert
Download the ScamShield app
The Ultimate Survival Guide to Scams
Together as One: Safeguarding Singapore from Scams