Synopsis: This is a new podcast by The Straits Times to raise greater public awareness of the modern scourge of scams in Singapore and globally.

In Singapore, nearly $1 billion has been lost by scam victims since 2016. Mutating and spreading, different types of scams have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, from love to work. The police are cracking down on offenders. What can you do to protect yourself?

In this episode, ST's deputy news editor Andre Yeo and journalist Jessie Lim speak with JC (not his real name), 20, who fell victim to a love and gaming scam in March 2021. He is a graphic design student waiting to enlist in national service. Joining them are Ms Lauren Yeo, principal counsellor of Restart Counselling for Wellness and Dr Annabelle Chow, principal clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology.

Highlights (click/tap above):

01:13 How JC lost $2,100 to a love and gaming scam in March 2021

09:04 Ms Yeo on how a girl, 15, cheated five people in a gift card scam

10:39 Dr Chow on why scam victims find it difficult to come forward; detecting when elderly try to hide their shame at being scammed

19:53 How children can avoid being scammed

23:10 Impact of scams on victims’ self-esteem, work performance; advice on how to tell parents if children fall victim to a scam

34:14 Why young children are more susceptible to scams than adults

Listen to earlier Stop Scams podcasts: https://str.sg/wuZB

Ep 1 - Near impossible to recover your money once scammers transfer it out of Singapore

Ep 2 - How scammers are buying bank accounts and digital identities of youth for misuse

Produced by: Andre Yeo ([email protected]), Jessie Lim ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Read ST's Stop Scams articles: https://str.sg/wWt9

• Anti-Scam Hotline: 1800-722-6688 (9am - 5pm); https://www.scamalert.sg/

• National Care Hotline: 1800-202-6868 (8am - 12am); https://ccs.org.sg/nch/

Public can join these police schemes:

Community Watch Scheme: https://go.gov.sg/spf-cws

Crime Prevention Ambassadors: https://www.ncpc.org.sg/cpas.html

Citizens on Patrol: https://go.gov.sg/citizensonpatrol

Follow ST's Stop Scams podcast series here:

Stop Scams Channel: https://str.sg/wuZB

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wu3e

Spotify: https://str.sg/wuJj

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wE7S

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/

Websites: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected] 

Andre Yeo's articles: https://str.sg/wWtC

Jessie Lim's articles: https://str.sg/wWtF

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Discover more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u 

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt 

COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE 

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN 

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf 

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m 

Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE 

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad 

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX 

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ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts 

ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa 

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn 

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB 

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa 

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Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB 

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX 

#stopscams

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