Scam Thwarted by PRAISE Advocates

GRAPHICS AND PHOTOS: Poh Jinn Yang

Project Police-RSVP Anti-Scam Engagement (PRAISE) is a partnership between Singapore Police Force’s Ang Mo Kio Police Division and RSVP Singapore The Organisation of Senior Volunteers (RSVP Singapore).

Volunteers from RSVP Singapore can join the project as PRAISE Advocates to be trained and receive updates on the latest scam trends from the Police. These equip the Advocates with the knowledge and skills to conduct anti-scam outreach to prevent other senior citizens from getting scammed.

The knowledge was put to good use when PRAISE Advocates Mr Andrew Ong Chin Chong and Ms Fatema Saifuddin Gandhi prevented an elderly man from becoming a victim of a government official impersonation scam.

Andrew and Fatema at the Home Team National Day Observance Ceremony 2024, where they received the Minister for Home Affairs Public Spiritedness Awards. PHOTO: Poh Jinn Yang

The Elderly Man’s Predicament
On 28 September 2023, Andrew and Fatema were manning an anti-scam booth at Rivervale Community Centre when a troubled-looking elderly man approached them. He seemed to want to share something with them. After some probing, he revealed that someone claiming to be a bank manager called him a few days ago and told him that his personal details were used to apply for a credit card, which was subsequently used for money laundering. He was also told that he would be under Police investigation.

Soon after, a “Police officer” called him and coerced him into disclosing his personal particulars as part of the purported investigation. The “officer” instructed him to stay in contact via WhatsApp and not let anyone know about it. It was clear to Andrew and Fatema that he was very frightened and had no inkling that he was a potential victim of a scam as he kept saying that he was very unlucky to have encountered these.         

Recognising the Signs
With the training they received as PRAISE Advocates, Andrew and Fatema instinctively recognised the signs of a possible scam.

Several thoughts ran through their minds when Andrew and Fatema heard the elderly man’s predicament. GRAPHIC: Poh Jinn Yang

After confirming with the elderly man that he had neither met the “bank manager” nor the “Police officer”, the duo informed the Police officer who was at the booth with them. When the Police officer told him that he was likely being targeted by scammers, he still did not believe it. The Police officer requested him to call the “officer” whom he had been in contact with and took over the call to pose questions. The “officer” hung up immediately and the elderly man finally realised that the “Police officer” was an imposter.

The elderly man was advised to stop all communication with the scammer and to make a Police report. He was thankful for the valuable assistance and advice he had received. Andrew and Fatema were glad that they were able to prevent the elderly man from suffering any financial loss.   

Volunteering since His Youth
Andrew has been volunteering for various causes for about 40 years. He began volunteering with RSVP Singapore in 2020, through befriending seniors, and more. He became a PRAISE Advocate in 2023, manning anti-scam booths to educate seniors and holding anti-scam workshops or talks at community venues.

Andew used to wonder how someone could fall prey to a scam easily, until he met real victims through being a PRAISE Advocate. PHOTO: Poh Jinn Yang

He shared that the half-day training workshop jointly held by Police and RSVP Singapore was very effective as it helped participants understand that scammers prey on people’s vulnerability, greed, illiteracy or fear (especially of government officials). Andrew also noted that volunteers need to be passionate and committed to the cause.

“I urge more seniors to volunteer as PRAISE Advocates, so as to get ahead of the scammers before they get ahead of their potential victims,” said Andrew.

A Close Shave of Her Own
Similarly, Ms Fatema has volunteered at several organisations for over two decades, such as tutoring at a school and being a first-aider with the Singapore Red Cross Society. She now volunteers under many of RSVP Singapore’s programmes, such as the Happy Programme, where she engages seniors in exercises, and Project PRAISE.   

She was overseas with her husband in 2020 when they were almost scammed of several thousand dollars. Due to the harrowing experience, she jumped at the chance to be a PRAISE Advocate when it was launched two years later.

She shared that being a PRAISE Advocate does not take up a lot of her time and energy as Advocates can choose which talks or events to attend, according to their availability or at their convenience. Only some brief pre-event preparation is required on their end. Police provides the presentation slides and hardware for the session and deploys officers to support PRAISE Advocates during the sessions.

When Fatema almost fell victim to a scam, she felt injustice, heartache and intense anger towards the scammers. PHOTO: Poh Jinn Yang

As a PRAISE Advocate, she can help prevent fellow seniors from being cheated of their hard-earned life savings, as well as from experiencing the heart-wrenching pain that would follow. She finds this very meaningful and fulfilling.

She advises seniors, “Check with your family members and friends when you receive unsolicited calls, as scammers use fear to get money from you. Seniors are usually targeted as they tend to be less tech-savvy and have life savings, as well as lonelier and want company, making them ideal targets for impersonation and fake friend scams.”

Benefiting Much from Volunteering

Andrew and Fatema form the letter ‘V’ for ‘Volunteers’ with their hands, symbolising their lifelong dedication to volunteering. PHOTO: Poh Jinn Yang

With about 60 years of volunteering experience between them, Andrew and Fatema reflected on the numerous benefits that volunteering brings. Volunteers learn new knowledge and skills, widen their social networks with fellow volunteers and beneficiaries, improve social skills, mental health and possibly life expectancy. They also embrace the values of kindness, understanding and empathy, helping both others and themselves.

The Home Team has a wide range of volunteer schemes, each allowing volunteers to learn valuable skills and contribute directly to the safety and security of the community and our loved ones. Join the ordinary people on extraordinary missions to help keep Singapore safe.