Helpline operator speaks with man for an hour, stops him from losing life savings to scammers

When Mr Aidil, 27, saw his father suddenly lock himself in his bedroom in December 2024 to answer a phone call, he became suspicious.

- Claudia Tan and Nadine Chua

His father, 63, got a call from a man claiming to be a DBS Bank officer investigating a $4,000 transaction made on his credit card, despite him not owning one.

The "officer" told his father someone had impersonated him to sign up for a credit card, and that he would be under investigation. His call was then transferred to a "police officer", who questioned him.

Mr Aidil's father, who was worried that he had broken the law, locked himself in his room as instructed by the "cop".

Afraid that his father might do something rash, Mr Aidil called the ScamShield helpline.

On Feb 19, Mr Aidil, who works in business development and declined to reveal his full name, recounted how his father, who works part-time in the security industry, almost lost his life savings.

He was speaking during a media interview organised by the police about the helpline's benefits.

In 2024, scam numbers hit a record high, with victims losing at least $1.1 billion.

This was a 70.6 per cent increase from the $651.8 million lost in 2023, said the police.

Mr Aidil happened to be home when he saw his father hole himself up in his room at about 11am.

He said: "I tried to ask my father to come out to talk to me about it, but he refused."

He frantically searched online for help and found the 24-hour ScamShield helpline (1799), operated by the National Crime Prevention Council.