A pregnant DBS staff member in Singapore stood firm to shield a grandmother’s life savings from a scam, turning a tense encounter into a powerful lesson on safeguarding financial security.
In Singapore, less than two weeks before giving birth, Fionice Teoh, a DBS assistant service manager at Century Square, encountered a distressed woman in her 70s who demanded S$190,000 in cash on December 24, 2024. As onlookers watched, the elder woman yelled that the money was hers and threatened to withdraw from all her accounts if denied. The bank refused, suspecting that the customer might be a scam victim.
Teoh, who was 38 weeks pregnant and on one of her final shifts before maternity leave, endured nearly two hours of verbal abuse. She later reflected on the balance between duty and safety: the job goes beyond processing transactions; it protects people, especially those most vulnerable.
The initial explanations from the woman shifted—from festive shopping to investments—and she insisted on cash withdrawals. Throughout the ordeal she was on the phone, coached by scammers on what to tell bank staff. Detecting the red flags, Teoh alerted the bank’s anti-scam unit. She noted that the woman resisted eye contact, constantly checked her phone, and appeared defensive to questions.
Teoh proposed returning the next day to allow more time for the anti-scam team and authorities to intervene. After two hours, the woman departed.
That night, Deputy Superintendent Benedict Ng of the police Anti-Scam Centre visited the home and uncovered a prior withdrawal of S$12,000 from another branch. He explained that scammers posed as bank personnel and law enforcement officers, urging her to surrender cash for a so-called money-laundering investigation. The woman at first doubted Ng’s identity and reported to the criminals multiple times a day over several days, fearing repercussions for family members if she stopped cooperating.
It took about an hour for Ng to reassure her and reveal the scam, leaving her relieved. Teoh and Ng together prevented losses exceeding S$200,000 from her life savings. A few days later, the grateful woman returned to the branch with chocolates to say thanks—an unusual gesture, given that many scam victims feel ashamed to admit they were duped.
Singapore has faced significant scam losses, totaling around S$4 billion since 2020. In 2024 alone, official impersonation scams accounted for 1,504 reported cases and about S$151.3 million in losses.
In response, new laws authorize caning for scammers, with a maximum of 24 strokes depending on the offense’s gravity. DBS emphasized ongoing efforts to balance robust safeguards with a seamless banking experience, pledging to strengthen defenses and security tools so customers can bank confidently.
Public guidance includes enabling security features like the ScamShield app, installing antivirus protections on devices, and verifying caller identities directly with the purported organization. Scam victims are urged to file police reports and notify their financial institutions. When in doubt, contact the 24/7 ScamShield helpline at 1799.
DSP Ng underscored the broader impact of scams: they devastate not only accounts but confidence and relationships. Each successful intervention helps a family preserve savings or secure a future.
