Loss aversion, or the fear of losing money or reputation, remains a powerful driver of scam susceptibility in Singapore.
Nearly one in two Singaporeans (47%) cited this as their top concern, according to Trend Micro’s latest consumer behaviour survey. Fast-money schemes and enticing investment offers proved especially effective, deceiving one in four individuals.
While scammers target victims across all age groups, the “sandwich generation” (adults aged 35 to 55) is particularly at risk. Juggling work and caregiving responsibilities leaves them more vulnerable to emotional pressure and time-sensitive ploys.
Many rely on instinct to stay safe. More than half (56%) of non-victims said they trusted their gut to avoid scams, even though this constant vigilance is mentally draining. Among victims, 41% only realised they had been scammed after losing money or failing to receive goods, while 37% said they became aware only after being alerted by banks, law enforcement or family members.
To counter this, Trend Micro has launched Scam Radar, a personalised feature in its AI-powered ScamCheck app that provides 24/7 real-time detection and early alerts. Beyond blocking suspicious texts, risky websites and deepfake video calls, the tool analyses activity across channels to uncover scammers’ tactics and anticipate their next moves.
Educating the public
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Public education is also vital in the fight against scams. As such, the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) has rolled out a nationwide "Stop and Check" campaign. It will be supported by physical pop-ups throughout 2026 and amplified via advertisements on buses, MRT stations, TV, and digital platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and TikTok.
The campaign urges the public to pause and verify unsolicited messages and calls with trusted sources before responding. This is because nearly 79% of reported scam cases in 2025 involved self-effected transfers, where victims were manipulated into moving money themselves through social engineering, according to the Singapore Police Force’s (SPF) Mid-year Scam and Cybercrime Brief 2025.
CSA chief executive David Koh warns: “Cybercriminals tap on human emotions and instincts to manipulate their victims. Some of their tactics include posing as trusted authorities or inducing a sense of urgency or a fear of missing out, to drive people to make rushed decisions. We need to be vigilant and maintain a dose of scepticism towards too-good-to-be-true deals and urgent requests for financial help or payments. Always stop and check. This pause will prevent us from losing our hard-earned money.”
The campaign is backed by a diverse network of partners from both the public and private sectors. They include banks and members of the Cyber Security Awareness Alliance, such as Google, Microsoft, Singtel, Samsung Electronics Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and the SPF.
