A vigilant bank officer’s quick thinking protected an elderly customer from losing her life savings.
A routine year-end transaction at a Singapore bank nearly turned into a devastating scam loss. What unfolded next showcased the critical role frontline staff play in protecting vulnerable customers from sophisticated criminal networks.
Pregnant Teller Spots Trouble at the Counter
A heavily pregnant DBS bank employee in Singapore helped save a customer from losing more than S$200,000 when she intervened during a tense exchange at the Century Square branch on December 24, 2024. The employee, Fionice Teoh, was just days away from maternity leave when she noticed troubling signs from a woman in her 70s requesting to withdraw S$190,000 in cash.
Teoh observed that the customer stayed on the phone throughout the encounter, appearing to follow step-by-step instructions from an unknown caller. The woman became agitated, at one point shouting that the bank had no right to stop her from withdrawing her own money.
Red Flags Prompt Intervention
Teoh kept calm despite the pressure. She noticed inconsistencies in the customer’s explanation, which shifted from festive purchases to an investment. She insisted on cash payment, a hallmark of common scam scripts. Concerned, Teoh alerted the bank’s anti scam team and persuaded the woman to return the next day, buying crucial time.
That evening, officers from the Anti Scam Centre visited the woman’s home. They learned she had already withdrawn S$12,000 earlier that day and had been preparing to hand it over to scammers posing as banking staff and law enforcement officers.
Police Reveal the Manipulation Tactics
Deputy Superintendent Benedict Ng said the criminals had convinced the woman that they needed to “examine her cash” as part of a money laundering investigation. She had been reporting her location multiple times daily. When police arrived, she initially believed DSP Ng was also a scammer, requiring nearly an hour of reassurance before she accepted the truth.
Building Trust to Break the Scam Spell
By the time officers intervened, the scammers had already created psychological control over the victim. The bank’s swift action prevented her from losing S$190,000, and her earlier withdrawal of S$12,000 was also saved. The next day, she returned to the branch with chocolates to thank the staff who had protected her life savings.
Scams Continue to Surge in Singapore
Singapore has recorded about S$4 billion in scam losses since 2020, highlighting the rising sophistication of fraud networks. In 2024 alone, 1,504 government impersonation scam cases were reported, with losses reaching S$151.3 million. New laws now permit up to 24 strokes of caning for convicted scammers, depending on the severity of the offence.
A Reminder of the Need for Vigilance
The incident underscores the importance of frontline banking staff, digital literacy, and swift law enforcement intervention in combating financial fraud. As scams grow increasingly complex, public awareness and institutional cooperation remain crucial safeguards.
This case highlights the rising risk of sophisticated phone-based scams across Southeast Asia. For communities in both Singapore and Indonesia, it reinforces the urgent need for stronger financial awareness and consistent vigilance, especially among seniors who are often targeted by transnational fraud groups.
Sources: Malay Mail (2025) , Malaysia News Yahoo! (2025)
Keywords: Singapore Scam Case, DBS Bank Incident, Anti Scam Centre, Elderly Victim Protection, Financial Fraud Prevention
