DBS staff member saves elderly woman from $190,000 scam
Scammers had convinced the woman she was under investigation.
It was the elderly woman's outburst that set off alarm bells for assistant service manager Fionice Teoh, who has been working at the DBS Century Square branch for more than two years.
"It's my money! If you don't let me withdraw everything, I'll close all my DBS accounts!" said the woman, who insisted on withdrawing her entire bank balance of $190,000 on Christmas Eve, 2024.
When Ms Teoh, a former airline stewardess of 10 years, pressed her for more details, the elderly woman claimed it was for personal use, and for an investment recommended by her daughter.
She also refused to provide verification documents and details of the investment product. "From her body language, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was coaching her over the phone," said Ms Teoh.
The assistant service manager then escalated the case to the DBS anti-scam team, which confirmed that the woman was likely a scam victim.
The bank placed an alert on her profile to ensure no other branch would release the funds. With police assistance, it was confirmed that she was indeed a victim of a scam.
The scammer had convinced the woman she was "under investigation", instructing her to tell staff members the money was for "investment and personal purposes".
They also insisted that she stay on the phone for the scammers to monitor the conversation.
DBS steps up training for staff members
"My job isn't just about transactions. It's about protecting people, especially those who are most vulnerable," recalled Ms Teoh in a Facebook post about the case, where many netizens commended her for her alertness.
In response to queries from The New Paper, a DBS spokesperson said that the bank's staff are trained to identify signs of vulnerability or duress in potential scam victims. Common warning signs include a reluctance to speak openly, hesitation, or confusion.
The spokesperson added that the bank has stepped up training to enhance vigilance among staff members.
Government official impersonation scams tripled
According to the Singapore Police Force's (SPF) mid-year scam and cybercrime brief released on Aug 30, government official impersonation scams almost tripled year-on-year.
The number of such cases reported increased to 1,762 cases in the first half of 2025, from 589 cases during the same period in 2024.
Such scams also recorded the second-highest loss among all scam types in the first half of 2025.
In a similar case, a scam victim was persuaded to withdraw $250,000 in cash, handing the money over to scammers, while instances of family financial abuse have also been reported.