11 episodes

Synopsis: This is a special 10-part podcast series by The Straits Times to raise greater public awareness in Singapore and globally, to highlight the latest scam tactics, trends and ways authorities are dealing with this modern-day scourge.

Podcasters: Andre Yeo, David Sun, Jessie Lim, Wong Shiying.

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis, The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

Stop Scams The Straits Times

    • News

Synopsis: This is a special 10-part podcast series by The Straits Times to raise greater public awareness in Singapore and globally, to highlight the latest scam tactics, trends and ways authorities are dealing with this modern-day scourge.

Podcasters: Andre Yeo, David Sun, Jessie Lim, Wong Shiying.

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis, The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

    Hear our podcasts on The Straits Times' app, besides Apple Podcasts & Spotify

    Hear our podcasts on The Straits Times' app, besides Apple Podcasts & Spotify

    Each follow on the audio apps below and a rating really helps us! Happy listening!

    Synopsis: A brand new feature is within The Straits Times app, which you can download from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. For those of you who already have it, the latest version update now has a dedicated Podcast Section, where you can listen to our latest incoming show episodes and check out back episodes too.

    You can also choose to follow our podcast RSS feeds, or the shows on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

    If you have a smart home speaker like the Google Home or Nest device, or your Android phone, just say: “Hey Google, play me (name of any of the shows below) or The Straits Times Podcasts.”

    Get The Straits Times app from

    The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

    Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

    Produced & edited by: Ernest Luis & Teo Tong Kai

    Follow ST Podcasts:

    Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

    Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK

    Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH

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

    Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    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

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    ---

    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

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #stpodcasttr
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 2 min
    How bank staff are trained to spot a high-risk 'scam' transaction

    How bank staff are trained to spot a high-risk 'scam' transaction

    Have scams impacted Singapore’s digital banking journey?

    Synopsis: This is a special 10-part podcast series 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 romance to work. The police are cracking down on offenders. What can you do to protect yourself?

    In the series’ 10th episode, ST’s deputy news editor Andre Yeo, crime correspondent David Sun and journalist Jessie Lim speak with Mr Frankie Phua, head of group risk management at UOB. 

    During the episode, Mr Phua discusses how the banking industry is studying the concept of a money lock which customers can opt into. This allows them to set aside a certain amount which cannot be digitally transferred out.

    He said this will allow customers to limit their risk exposure while enjoying the benefits of digital banking. He also examines the measures the banking industry has rolled out to tackle scams such as transaction limits and whether these have impacted Singapore’s digital banking journey. 

    Highlights (click/tap above) 

    1:58 The difference between authorised and unauthorised scams and why it matters 

    4:19 How bank staff detect high-risk transactions by using the SPOT framework

    13:42 How scams have impacted Singapore’s digital banking journey

    19:04 How a female customer in her 70s lost almost a million dollars in a China official impersonation scam 

    24:08 The responsibilities which banks and customers have, when scams happen 

    25:47 What is a money lock? How it will safeguard savings

    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/

    Produced by: Andre Yeo (andrey@sph.com.sg), Jessie Lim (ljessie@sph.com.sg), David Sun (davidsun@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Teo Tong Kai

    Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

    Follow Stop Scams podcast series here:

    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: podcast@sph.com.sg

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

    David Sun's articles: https://str.sg/wWty

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

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    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

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (new): 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

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #stopscams

     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 29 min
    What to do if your Instagram account has been hacked?

    What to do if your Instagram account has been hacked?

    Synopsis: This is a special 10-part podcast series 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 romance to work. The police are cracking down on offenders. What can you do to protect yourself?

    In the series’ ninth episode, ST’s deputy news editor Andre Yeo, crime correspondent David Sun and journalist Jessie Lim speak with Ms Verena Chin, owner of home-based bakery Le Artisserie.

    During the episode, Ms Chin recounts her experience of having her Instagram business account taken over by scammers and how she regained it within two days.  

    She also advises Instagram users on the steps they can take to recover their accounts -  such as immediately requesting a change in e-mail address and asking friends to report to Instagram, if their accounts have been hacked. 

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    1:28 How scammers took over Ms Verena Chin’s Instagram account in Sept 2022

    7:23 Why home-based business owners depend heavily on Instagram for orders

    10:50 How Ms Chin regained access to her Instagram account within a day

    18:11 Warning signs someone may be trying to take over your Instagram account

    23:48 What scammers can do after taking over your Instagram account 

    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/

    Produced by: Andre Yeo (andrey@sph.com.sg), Jessie Lim (ljessie@sph.com.sg), David Sun (davidsun@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh

    Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

    Follow Stop Scams podcast series here:

    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: podcast@sph.com.sg

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

    David Sun's articles: https://str.sg/wWty

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

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    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

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

    ---

    Special edition series:

    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

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #stopscams
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 27 min
    How former scam victims run Global Anti Scam Organization and fight scams worldwide

    How former scam victims run Global Anti Scam Organization and fight scams worldwide

    Synopsis: This is a special-edition podcast series 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 romance to work. The police are cracking down on offenders. What can you do to protect yourself?

    In the series’ eighth episode, ST’s deputy news editor Andre Yeo, crime correspondent David Sun and journalist Jessie Lim speak with Mr Brian Bruce, chief of operations at Global Anti Scam Organization (Gaso), who is in charge of its investigations team.

    During the episode, Mr Bruce warned about pig butchering scams which combine tactics used in love and investment scams.  

    Mr Bruce also mentioned how Gaso - formed in June 2021 - works with government agencies in South-east Asia to secure the release of human trafficking victims duped into working for scam syndicates in Myanmar and Cambodia.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    0:40 What the Global Anti Scam Organization (Gaso) does to tackle scams worldwide

    3:11 How Mr Bruce lost US$200,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam in September 2021

    9:03 How the pig butchering scam works and its impact on victims 

    17:57 Scam syndicates in South-east Asia and their recruitment tactics 

    20:05 How scam victims can recover psychologically from a scam 

    22:26 How Gaso works with US and South-east Asian law enforcement agencies to secure the release of those lured into working for scam syndicates 

    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/

    Produced by: Andre Yeo (andrey@sph.com.sg), Jessie Lim (ljessie@sph.com.sg), David Sun (davidsun@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Eden Soh

    Edited by: Teo Tong Kai

    Follow Stop Scams podcast series here:

    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: podcast@sph.com.sg

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

    David Sun's articles: https://str.sg/wWty

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

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    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

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

    ---

    Special edition series:

    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

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #stopscams
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 26 min
    Cryptocurrency scams: Not just those in their 20s to 30s fall prey - even the elderly are targeted

    Cryptocurrency scams: Not just those in their 20s to 30s fall prey - even the elderly are targeted

    Synopsis: This is a special-edition podcast series 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 romance to work. The police are cracking down on offenders. What can you do to protect yourself?

    In the series’ seventh episode, ST’s crime correspondent David Sun, business correspondent Claire Huang, and journalist Jessie Lim speak with Fiona Choong, vice president of compliance at cryptocurrency exchange Coinhako.

    Ms Choong covers the common kinds of scams involving cryptocurrency and what precautions cryptocurrency users can take against them.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:18 How a man in his 70s fell prey to a ‘tech support’ scam, and how his life savings of over S$400,000 was saved

    5:50 Most active crypto customers are in the 20 to 30 age range; risk rules and safeguards covering various ages

    11:00 Know-your-client (KYC) and financial literacy standards: How to uphold them, especially in Singapore?

    18:20 Are there scams involving cryptocurrency giveaways, also known as ‘drops’, a marketing strategy that involves sending coins or tokens to wallet addresses?

    26:40 Constantly evolving products such as non-fungible tokens and Web 3.0 a challenge for compliance officers when detecting scams

    28:25 Love scam uncovered: When a man tried to withdraw a large amount of crypto to purportedly buy a piece of property for his ‘girlfriend’

    32:07 Measures to take to avoid falling to cryptocurrency scams: how fear, greed and loneliness are exploited by scammers

    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/

    Produced by: Jessie Lim (ljessie@sph.com.sg), David Sun (davidsun@sph.com.sg), Claire Huang (claire@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Eden Soh

    Edited by: Eden Soh

    Follow Stop Scams podcast series here:

    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: podcast@sph.com.sg 

    David Sun's articles: https://str.sg/wWty

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

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    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

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

    ---

    Special edition series:

    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

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #stopscams
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 37 min
    The day a senior in his 60s fell for a "Carousell" job scam

    The day a senior in his 60s fell for a "Carousell" job scam

    Synopsis: This is a special-edition podcast series 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 romance to work. The police are cracking down on offenders. What can you do to protect yourself?

    In the series’ sixth episode, ST’s deputy news editor Andre Yeo, crime correspondent David Sun and journalist Jessie Lim speak with Ms Jessica Chen, a policy and escalation manager at Carousell and Ms Lavone Toh, an associate product manager also with the e-commerce marketplace. 

    Both of them talked about the emergence of job scams involving the impersonation of Carousell staff and some of Carousell’s safety features, such as pop-up reminders within chats which warn customers when they are eyeing popular items known to have false listings, such as staycation deals.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    06:01 How a senior in his 60s showed up at Carousell’s headquarters in Buona Vista demanding to see “Amy”, a scammer who cheated him of $2,000 in a job scam 

    12:41 How Carousell removes thousands of suspicious listings every month and tell-tale signs

    14:41 New initiatives Carousell has embarked on to tackle scams and how user feedback helps the e-commerce marketplace identify threats 

    18:13 How Carousell balances consumer safety and satisfaction, with the launch of the E-Commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings earlier in 2022 

    21:45 Why people should not sell their Carousell accounts to other users who can list fake items on them 

    Produced by: Andre Yeo (andrey@sph.com.sg), Jessie Lim (ljessie@sph.com.sg), David Sun (davidsun@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai and Paxton Pang

    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/

    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: podcast@sph.com.sg 

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

    David Sun's articles: https://str.sg/wWty

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

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

    In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

    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

    ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

    #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

    Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

    Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

    ---

    Special edition series:

    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

    ---

    Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

    #stopscams
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 27 min

Top Podcasts In News

The Daily
The New York Times
Up First
NPR
Serial
Serial Productions & The New York Times
The Ben Shapiro Show
The Daily Wire
Pod Save America
Crooked Media
The Megyn Kelly Show
SiriusXM