'Only later did I realise how stupid I was': Retiree, 85, almost loses $110k to tech support scam
An 85-year-old retiree in Singapore was nearly defrauded of $110,000 by scammers posing as technical support and police officers. The victim was saved by a vigilant bank teller who suspected the transfer was fraudulent.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the rising prevalence of sophisticated technical support scams targeting vulnerable populations and the critical role of financial institutions in fraud prevention.
SINGAPORE - As Jim (not his real name) was checking e-mails on his computer, a pop-up saying his device was blocked for security reasons suddenly filled the screen.
When the retired businessman, 85, called the number shown, a scammer impersonating technical support staff told him the police needed to be informed.
Despite not being among the top 10 scam types, the amount lost to technical support scams rose from $769,000 in the first half of 2025 to $4.9 million during the same period in 2026.
The police said the number of such scams rose by almost 50 per cent, from 33 cases in the first six months of 2025 to 49 cases during the same period in 2026.
Speaking to the media on Sept 2, Jim said a fake policeman called him and said his account had been used by someone to transfer illicit funds.
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