EDUCATION OF THE ELDERLY ON DEALING WITH CONFIDENCE TRICKSTERS

Mr Philip Tan Tee Yong asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in view of the recent spate of confidence-trickster cases on the elderly, whether his Ministry will study ways and means to educate and assist the elderly to deal with such encounters.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs (Dr Lee Boon Yang) (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, I shall answer on behalf of my Minister.

There were 65 reported cases of cheating including attempted cheating by male confidence tricksters during the period July 1985 to July 1986. In all these cases, the victims were mostly elderly women who were tricked through the telephone. One of the culprits responsible for 34 of the 65 reported cases was recently arrested and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment.

Sir, since 1982 when such cases were first reported, the Police have been taking various measures to educate the public, especially the elderly who form the most vulnerable group. This includes:

(a) Advice on preventive measures to potential victims through the press, TV and radio and crime prevention exhibitions.

(b) Production of a 10-part short drama series on common cheating cases and preventive measures which was screened during the popular Family Hour programme last year. This programme has been videotaped and is regularly shown by the Police during the crime prevention exhibitions held at housing estates and schools.

(c) Neighbourhood Police Post officers also advise residents to be wary of the latest conman tactics during their house-to-house visits.

(d) The Police also give advice on such cheating cases through the Crime Watch newsletter which is sent to 65,000 Neighbourhood Watch Scheme leaders for dissemination to 250,000 households participating in the scheme.

Sir, the efforts of the Police to alert the public and to educate them against confidence tricksters will continue.