With scams on the rise, a team of dedicated senior volunteers are helping to protect their peers from scams and fraud to keep the community safe.
By: Rose Maswida
On 15 July 2024, 46 senior volunteers from RSVP Singapore The Organisation of Senior Volunteers (RSVP Singapore) were appointed as Police-RSVP Anti-Scam Engagement (PRAISE) Advocates. This also 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, the latest scam trends are shared with senior volunteers from RSVP Singapore so that they’re well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to conduct anti-scam outreach engagements as PRAISE Advocates, to prevent scam incidents within the elderly community across Singapore.
Since its launch in July 2022, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and RSVP Singapore have recruited more than 200 PRAISE Advocates, who have reached out to over 11,180 senior citizens through more than 120 anti-scam outreach sessions island-wide.
Police Life speaks with one of the advocates, Mr Andrew Ong, who successfully intervened in an ongoing scam case with another advocate, helping the elderly victim realise that he had been scammed by someone impersonating a government official.
What motivated you to become a PRAISE Advocate?
I’ve been engaged in volunteer work for almost 40 years. When I first joined RSVP Singapore in April 2020, I volunteered at a dementia care home for six months until its closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Seeking a new opportunity to contribute and serve our senior community after the COVID-19 pandemic, I came across Project PRAISE and joined in early 2023.
What are your roles and responsibilities as a PRAISE Advocate?
As PRAISE Advocates, we raise scam awareness among the seniors by running talks, workshops and setting up engagement booths across Singapore. These events are held at community centres, old age homes and other community venues. By working together with the Police, we’re able to provide support to seniors, helping them stay informed and safe from scams.
What’s the training like for PRAISE Advocates?
During the introductory training sessions, the Police provide comprehensive training on how to identify and deal with scams. They share with us the latest scam tactics and effective engagement strategies. We’re also updated regularly on the latest scam trends through various channels such as WhatsApp.
Our training is further advanced through our partnership with Google Singapore as they equip us with knowledge on the latest and more sophisticated scams to better protect our community. Through these combined efforts, we strive to stay ahead of scammers and keep our seniors safe.
What types of scams are the elderly most prone to?
One of the most prevalent scams targeting the elderly is the “fake friend” scam. Many seniors, often feeling lonely, become vulnerable when they receive a call from someone pretending to be an old friend or relative. The scammer’s friendly demeanour and familiarity can easily excite the seniors, prompting them to reciprocate without suspicion.
Another common scam involves the impersonation of government officials or bank officers. The elderly are particularly susceptible to these scams because the authoritative tone of the callers can quickly make them emotional and compliant. In their distress, they often provide the requested information without hesitation.
To combat these scams, we educate our seniors to be cautious of unsolicited calls. We also advise them to adopt the Add, Check, Tell advisory – add the ScamShield App and security features; check for scam signs with official sources; and tell authorities, family and friends about scams.
Can you share with us a memorable case that you successfully intervened?
At one of our engagement sessions in 2023, we set up a booth near a community centre to educate the elderly about current scam trends and how to spot and prevent scams.
One elderly couple stood out. The husband appeared visibly disturbed and stressed. He shared that he had received a call from someone claiming to be a bank manager, who told him that his personal details had been used to apply for a new credit card with fraudulent transactions and informed him that a “Police officer” would investigate the case. The husband was fearful and worried, exclaiming that he didn’t even own a credit card. His distress was palpable, and it was clear that he genuinely believed he was speaking to a legitimate bank officer.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, I asked if he had met the bank manager or the “Police officer” supposedly investigating the case. When he replied “no,” I recognised the red flags immediately. Scammers exploit the emotional states and vulnerabilities of victims, whether it's greed for a good deal or fear of illegal activities. In this case, the mention of a fraudulent credit card used for money laundering heightened the senior’s fear, making it difficult for him to realise it was a scam.
I promptly called a Police officer who was with us at the booth for support. He swiftly intervened, helping to calm the senior and resolve the case.
What do you find the most rewarding about being a PRAISE Advocate?
It’s been quite surreal for me, meeting real victims and witnessing the scale of these scams. Even before my involvement, I felt a deep sense of anger whenever I hear about scams and the rising number of scam cases. These scams target people who have worked so hard, often cheating the victims’ of their life savings, which evokes a strong sense of injustice and pain within me.
Having the opportunity to spot and stop someone from becoming a scam victim brings a profound sense of fulfilment! It adds immense value to my role as an advocate.
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