scam

Crimes of scams and fraud continues to increase and evolve into many different ways. In the past, scammers meet their target face to face to conduct their illegimate activities. One example of the scams that requires meeting face to face is the ‘Apple Scam‘ that happened in Singapore. But the scammer nowadays don’t even have to meet their target face to face, they simply uses technology to conduct the scam, it mainly involves computers, internet and phones. For example, the scammers can create a post online which says they are selling concert ticket at lower price. The victim saw the post, and falsely believe it’s true and pays the money, ended up received either nothing or a piece of fake ticket. Today I would like to share with you some basic tips on how to protect yourself and prevent you from becoming the next victim of scams.

Dealing with scams

helps in Singapore	helps in United States
https://www.scamalert.sg/ Official website by NCPC Singapore, it allows site visitor to share their scam stories.	https://www.usa.gov/stop-scams-frauds
scamalert.sg Anti Scam Helpline: 1800-722-6688	https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud
These are the website and helpine we find it for people who needs helps or info on fraud and scam related matters in Singapore and United States.

What are some of the most common scams nowadays?:

Phone call scams
E-commerce scams
Lucky draw scams
Loan Scams

Don’t be greedy

Just like the story mention above, the victim is greedy and wants to buy the concert ticket at cheaper price. Ended up being scammed and looses money. When shopping online, don’t be fool by prices that sounds too good to be true. Please double check the seller and ensure the seller is trustworthy.
And if you are looking forward to purchase concert/performance ticket, do contact the organizer to know where they sell the ticket if you are unable confirm. They will also state if they allow any third-party seller to sell ticket.

The Police and court will not call you to request for your assistance

One day, you recieve phone call from someone who claim that he/she is a law enforcement and wants you to assist in a criminal case investigation. Those people will either say they are police officer or Interpol to scare their target. Do take note, the police will not call you. Instead, they visit you straight in person if they needs you to assist in case investigation. The police will also never asks you to transfer funds from your bank account. In reality, the law enforcement will asks court to froze your bank account if you are under investigation on certain cases.

The court will also not call you to inform you things about law related matters. Intead of calling, many countries rule the court to send things like official letter or document to people for law related matters.

The scammer choose to impose as law enforcement or court’s personnel is to frighten their target. The scammer speaks seriousely over the phone and telling their victims what trouble they could ran into if they do not cooperate with them. The frightened victim will become cooperative to the scammer and help them to do what they want, which made the scammer getting what they wanted in the end. The best way to prevent is to ignore such call and do not reveal any information to them. If you couldn’t confirm if it is real or fake law enforcement, you should seek help from your local police station.

Can’t confirm the phone call?

Be alert when you receive call from unknown number. When you receive an unknown phone call, if you cannot confirm who is the caller at all, you may say these to the caller:

“Sorry, I am busy now, please leave your name and contact details, and I will contact you later.”
“Excuse me, may I know who are you?”
“Excuse me, may I know where are you calling from?”

Do note that do not reveal your personal information to the caller. Many scams happened on phone call. The scammers are trying to collect your personal information by tricking you into revealing them.

I read a book to learn more about frauds

I bought a book, the title is: ‘Scam me if you can’, to learn more things about frauds and scams. Although the book is based on fraud incidents and problems at United States, it is still good to learn more. The book also shared some stories about fraud, and I find the main cause of people in the stories becoming victims of fraud are caused by carelessness.

One of the story in the book shares about a victim whose family member allowing her friend to stay at the victim’s home. The victim did not know who is this person at all, and her family member did not even seek her permission first before letting her friend to live in. As a result, the friend took the victim’s personal info found in the house and use to conduct fraudulent activities in victim’s name. Sadly, the victim later faces many serious problems afterwards.

Where I bought the book:

lastly, I would like to share with you a film

The CrimeWatch is a tv programme from Singapore. The stories in the films are based on true crime events occurred in Singapore.

This episode is about a person who was being cheated into paying large sums of money for buying surgical mask in 2020, he ended up received nothing from the scammer and had to file a police report. In 2020, because of Covid-19, the surgical mask becomes very demanding globally, the man in the video wants to purchase large amount of mask but he bought it from the wrong person.

I am sharing with you an episode which shows a story about scam, the year 2020 series, Episode 10. The CrimeWatch have many series, if you like to see more, do give a search on Youtube.

Mobile phone contract scams — Image by FOX | https://www.pexels.com/@fox-58267

Last year, one of our admin, Coding Matrix was scammed by his childhood friend. The friend asks Coding Matrix to sign up for a mobile phone contract on behalf of him. When he was asked why he can’t sign the contract himself, he gave excuses of his parent’s name already registered under other phone contract and cannot sign up for more. He also offer Coding Matrix some money in exchange for the 4G network and the new Iphone device given by the contract. Coding Matrix thought it is totally fine, he sign up the contract using his own name at the Telecom store, and gave the Sim Card with 4G network as well as the new phone to his friend.

However, when the phone bill mails to Coding Matrix’s home, as he start asking him to pay the bill, the selfish friend refused to pay the bill. His friend blocked Coding Matrix’s contact number and on social media including Whatsapp to prevent Coding Matrix from contacting him. The bill costs more than a thousand of dollars (Singapore dollar).

MAKING THE POLICE REPORT

Coding Matrix have no choice but made a police report secretly without his parent’s notice, he afraid his parent will scold him if he let them know. Coding Matrix told me when he’s making the police report, the police officer call his reported case a “Stupid Case” when the officer is discussing the matter with his colleague over the phone. Yes, I laughed, I totally agreed with the police officer that this is very “Stupid Case”. Firstly, it is because Coding Matrix is too careless, as he should not trust people so easily. He could have asked someone close to his family like his grandparent or relative to help signing the contract if he really needs the new phone and network, instead of asking his friend for help. Secondly, Coding Matrix does not even know where his friend live and ways to contact his parent. He shouldn’t help him at the first place when he is unclear of where he lives.

“I saw the police officer said my case is a ‘Stupid Case’ when he discuss my problem with his colleague over the phone.”
Coding Matrix

TRACKING DOWN THE CULPRIT

I tried to help Coding Matrix by find out where his friend live and working at, but Coding Matrix only knows his Facebook and Instagram account. When I investigate, Coding Matrix told me his friend’s family have financial problem, which causes him unable to continue his studies and he quit ITE (A school in Singapore) to start working. I strongly believe that it is nonsense, because Singapore provides bursary and financial assistance for students who faces financial difficulties, so they will be able to pay the school fee and continue receiving education. It’s almost impossible to quit school just because of financial problems in Singapore, I predict most likely his friend dislikes the class lesson or the subject which made him decide to quit school. I continue to investigate it further, but I still can’t find where he lives or work at. Instead, I found a few points which prove that he is not poor. I saw a picture of him smoking cigarette on Instagram. Cigarette are not cheap in Singapore, as I told Coding Matrix, but he told me his friend might be purchasing cigarette from unlicensed sales person which sold it cheaply. Next, from the Instagram post, I find that he have tattoos on his leg and he his hair are dyed with bright colors. These are not cheap also, if he’s really facing financial difficulties, he wouldn’t spend his money on such area at all.

Regardless, Coding Matrix now regrets helping him, as it had also gave him many problems afterwards. Few months after the contract had cancelled, the debt collection service company sent Coding Matrix a letter which asks him to pay the contract’s phone bill. Even though the contract is cancelled, the bill still have to be paid, or Coding Matrix will not be able to sign up new contract from that particular Telecom company again in future. He tried to hide it from his parent, but his mother later still found that he was scammed by his friend and scolded him fiercely. Coding Matrix’s mum brings him to the police station and made a new police report. Furthermore, his mum also filed a complaint to the Telecom company.

Besides, he could have avoided these problems if he think twice. Such scamming cases are actually common in Singapore. It’s not the first time where such similar cases happen.

His story had taught us four important points:

Not to trust others easily.
Think carefully before helping people in complex problem or accepting offer.
Don’t be greedy.
Be very careful when making friends, Coding Matrix’s story has shown us that he was making friends with the wrong person.

Maple Tree

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