In a ceremony held at the Police Cantonment Complex today, two staff members from Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC) Bank, Serangoon Garden Branch, were commended for their public-spiritedness. With their assistance, a victim was prevented from falling prey to a love scam.
On 12 March 2018 at about 10 am, a 43-year-old female victim went to OCBC Bank, Serangoon Garden Branch, to make a transfer of $2,500 to another OCBC bank account. The branch teller, Ms Yao Liang Bing, sensed that the victim was confused and asked for more facts pertaining to the purpose of the transfer. The victim informed her that a man whom she knew through a social networking platform intends to send her a gift. In order for her to receive the gift, the victim had to pay a customs clearance fee of $2,500 by depositing the said amount into an OCBC bank account. From crime advisories issued by the police, Ms Yao knew that this is a common modus operandi used by scammers. Ms Yao immediately escalated the matter to the Customer Service Manager, Ms Seah Hoon Hoon June. Both staff attended to the victim and advised her against making the transfer. The victim subsequently lodged a police report on the same day.
Director Commercial Affairs Department, Mr David Chew, thanked OCBC Bank for their close cooperation with the Singapore Police Force in detecting and preventing crimes, and commended Miss Yao and Miss Seah for their alertness and public spiritedness when performing their duties. He said, “Prevention is better than cure and it often takes a concerned bystander to see the need and step up to help a potential victim of a scam. As the first point of contact with the victim, Miss Yao and Miss Seah had successfully saved the her from not just losing the initial $2,500 but future financial loss and distress if the scam had continued.”
Director CAD Mr. David Chew with OCBC staff, Ms Seah Hoon Hoon June (left) and Ms Yao Liang Bing (right)
Director CAD Mr. David Chew with OCBC staff Ms Seah Hoon Hoon June
Director CAD Mr. David Chew with OCBC staff Ms Yao Liang Bing
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
14 March 2018 @ 1:00 PM