A total of 46 RSVP Singapore The Organisation of Senior Volunteers (RSVP Singapore) senior volunteers, who had completed the anti-scam training package conducted by the SPF and RSVP Singapore, were appointed as Police-RSVP Anti-Scam Engagement (PRAISE) Advocates at an appointment ceremony held on 15 July 2024 at the Majestic Smart Seniors Applied Learning Centre (MSSALC).
July 2024 marks the second anniversary of Project PRAISE, which is a partnership between Ang Mo Kio Police Division and RSVP Singapore to raise anti-scam awareness amongst senior citizens. Under this initiative, PRAISE Advocates, comprising senior volunteers from RSVP Singapore, are trained on the latest scam trends so that they are well-equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct anti-scam outreach to other senior citizens across Singapore.
To date, the SPF and RSVP Singapore have recruited more than 200 PRAISE Advocates. These PRAISE Advocates have reached out to over 11,180 senior citizens through more than 120 anti-scam outreach sessions islandwide, at community centres, resident committees, hospitals, and active ageing centres.
Project PRAISE has seen the following success stories:
- In September 2023, two PRAISE advocates, Mr Andrew Ong and Ms Fatema Saifuddin Gandhi, successfully intervened an ongoing scam case by convincing a senior citizen that he was being scammed by a scammer impersonating a government official. Both PRAISE Advocates were manning an anti-scam booth at a health screening event at Rivervale Community Centre (CC) when a senior citizen approached them, seeking help on a suspected Government Official Impersonation scam. They quickly identified it as a scam and successfully convinced the senior to cease any contact with the scammer.
- In October 2023, PRAISE Advocate Mr Ronald Chan successfully intervened and prevented a victim from suffering further monetary losses to an internet love scam. The victim was targeted by a syndicate in an internet love scam since 2022, resulting in a loss amounting to S$100,000. Mr Chan was approached by the victim’s brother, following his presentation at a PRAISE Anti-scam talk at Chua Chu Kang CC. Mr Chan successfully convinced the victim that she was a victim of an internet love scam and to cease any further contact with the scammer.
Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division, Assistant Commissioner of Police Xie Xingmao said: “The successful intervention by PRAISE Advocates is a clear testament to the effectiveness of their engagement with the senior citizens across Singapore. I am deeply appreciative of the tireless work of our PRAISE Advocates in reaching out to senior citizens islandwide to educate them on scams and other elderly-centric crimes. The work on the ground clearly reflects the spirit of Project PRAISE to support our senior citizens in the fight against crime - “For the Seniors, By the Seniors, Through the Seniors.” Moving forward, the SPF and RSVP Singapore will continue to grow our pool of advocates, explore more channels of outreach and develop activities to better engage our senior citizens.”
Commanding Officer, Sengkang NPC, Superintendent Kelvin Tay, Chairman, RSVP Singapore, Mr Koh Juay Meng, President of Singapore Police Retirees’ Association, Mr Richard Goh, with newly appointed PRAISE Advocates and guests ▼
Superintendent Kelvin Tay, PRAISE Advocate, Mr Ronald Chan and Mr Koh Juay Meng ▼
PRAISE Advocate, Mr Andrew Ong, shares his experience during a sharing session ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
15 July 2024 @ 7:00 PM