To protect them, Bukit Merah East Neighbourhood Police Centre launched a Silver Watch Group on Sunday, the first such initiative to be rolled out here.
The group, made up of volunteers from voluntary welfare organisations that deal with the elderly, and police officers, will make house visits to educate them on scams such as those involving bogus electricians, and also teach them to keep their homes secure.
More than 200 elderly residents turned up at the two-year programme's launch at Kreta Ayer Community Centre. A video re-enacting several scam scenarios and featuring interviews with elderly victims was screened. It showed some elderly folk being fooled by fake fortune-tellers who convinced them to pay for rituals to ward off bad luck or even illnesses.
In other cases, these conmen sold 'magic stones' to elderly residents which purported to cure them of their body aches. While many of the elderly, who came from the Chinatown area, laughed at the video, MP for Tanjong Pagar Lily Neo, who was at the event, said that such crimes are common in the area.
SUCH CRIMES COMMON
'During my house-to-house visits, I am bound to meet residents who tell me that they got cheated, be it a small amount or a big amount.'
MP for Tanjong Pagar Lily Neo
'During my house-to-house visits, I am bound to meet residents who tell me that they got cheated, be it a small amount or a big amount.'
MP for Tanjong Pagar Lily Neo
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