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/wnBi 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 (andrey@sph.com.sg), Jessie Lim (ljessie@sph.com.sg), 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 Playlist: https://str.sg/wnBi Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wnB5 Spotify: https://str.sg/wnBS 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 Jessie Lim's articles: https://str.sg/wWtF --- Follow ST Podcasts channel: Channel: https://str.sg/JWVR Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2Lu4rPP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU Google podcasts: http://str.sg/googlestbt SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Websites: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg  --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wsfD The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia Embed: https://str.sg/ws76 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wnBi Discover more ST podcast series: In Your Opinion Podcast: https://str.sg/w7Qt SG Extra Podcast: https://str.sg/wX8w  Asian Insider Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.