Public to guard against phone scams

Cheating and related crimes rose from 2,917 to 3,316 cases in 2007. Despite the increase, the rates of cheating and related crimes have remained fairly stable in recent years, registering rates of 66 to 72 incidents per 100,000-population between 2003 and 2007.

Phone scams targeting the general public have emerged in various forms in 2007. Lucky draw/ Lottery scam involves victims who are persuaded to make advance payments to claim a prize. In 2007, 325 victims fell prey to this scam and lost more than S$4 million in cash, ranging between S$200 and S$350,000, when they were asked to transfer money via remittance houses to various overseas recipients.

The “Kidnap Hoax” first surfaced in Aug 2007. In general, the conmen would call the victim and claim that one of their family members had been kidnapped. Following which, the conmen would demand that the victim transfer a sum of ransom money to them, failing which the “kidnapped” family member would be harmed. In reality, the kidnappings did not take place. Conmen were successful in cheating four victims of more than S$80,000 in all.

Another scam first noted in Sep 2007 involved conmen falsely claiming to be a Supreme Court/Police representative and accuse victims to be involved in criminal offences (e.g. money laundering). The conmen would ask the victims to make money transfers via remittance houses to close the investigations into their offences. In reality, the victims were not involved in any criminal case. The culprits were successful in 49 cases and victims were cheated of more than S$500,000. The amounts cheated per case ranged between S$1,000 and S$50,000. All the transactions went through before victims could cancel the transactions.

Police have actively engaged stakeholders such as remittance and financial institutions, through roadshows and training sessions, to alert them to potential victims so as to foil these scams. Public education through the media and grassroots engagement was also key to disseminating warnings of such scams to residents.

Crimes against the elderly remain a concern

Snatch theft increased from 592 to 705 cases, while robbery rose from 946 to 989 cases in 2007. In terms of the number of snatch theft and robbery cases per 100,000-population, it was noted that the rates in recent years have fallen as compared to the levels registered in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Police are also concerned with snatch theft and robbery against the elderly as the number of elderly victims falling prey to snatch theft and robbery increased from 170 to 242 in 2007. Generally, elderly victims were robbed in lifts and at common areas of housing estates such as void-decks and staircases and happened between the early-morning and afternoon when victims were alone and going about their daily activities. Most elderly victims of snatch theft were lone women on their way home or going about their daily activities when the incidents took place.

Police and the National Crime Prevention Council conducted 106 Senior Citizens’ chit-chat sessions in 2007 reaching out to over 66,000 senior citizens on crime prevention. These outreach programmes utilised over 100 Crime Prevention Ambassadors (CPAs) who speak the four main languages and common Chinese dialects. Being peers, there is a sense of ease of sharing crime prevention concerns between the CPAs and the participants.

Outrage of modesty cases and statutory rape against youths

Statutory rape cases involve females aged under 14 years who have had consensual sexual intercourse. In 2007, there were 57 statutory rape cases, compared to 38 cases in 2006. Similar to previous years, boyfriends/ex-boyfriends and friends form the bulk of such cases in 2007.

Outrage of modesty cases involving youth student victims numbered 416 cases in 2007, compared to 396 cases in 2006 . In general, these offences took place at common areas of public housing estates like void-decks and corridors during the day on weekdays.

Enhanced laws against metal thefts

Despite the fall in theft and related crimes, there were concerns over cases where metal items were stolen. In 2007, there were 1,291 reports of metal thefts, up 204 cases from the 1,087 cases recorded last year. Theft of metal occurred at both public and private premises and common metal items stolen include cables, lightning conductors, raw materials, prayer urns, dry-riser lugs⁵ , signages, drain covers and doors of cable television over-ground boxes.

In 2007, 197 persons, mainly males aged between 30 and 50 years, were arrested for metal thefts involved in 149 cases. The total value of metallic items stolen was more than S$6 million in 2007, compared to approximately S$4 million in 2006.

Police have tightened the legislative framework to tackle metal theft by making it difficult to dispose metal items. A good example is the recent arrest of a man who transacted almost two tonnes in metal parts. Police will continue to work closely with property owners, government agencies and town councils to educate them on implementing possible prevention or detection measures to curb such thefts.

5 Dry-riser lugs are fittings in buildings needed for SCDF firefighters to draw water to douse high-rise fires. .

Last updated: 24 Nov 2008