Fit to thrive: Using exercise to combat burnout and boost productivity
For SCDF Major (NS) Cheng Zihua, maintaining a regular fitness routine is the ultimate strategy to stave off burnout, improve productivity and strengthen both body and mind.
For SCDF Major (NS) Cheng Zihua, maintaining a regular fitness routine is the ultimate strategy to stave off burnout, improve productivity and strengthen both body and mind.
The June holidays are here, so pack those books away, it’s time for a month of fun and exploration for the whole family.
Aqua Adventure offers more ways to make a splash at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir. TEXT: MORGAN AWYONG PHOTOS: HOMETEAMNS Other than the occasional cold spell, Singapore’s sweltering tropical weather usually has us appreciating the fact that we’re surrounded by water. For most of us, pools are the best way to cool off and a new indoor water park is always welcome news, especially for those rainy days. Aqua Adventure at Bedok Reservoir clubhouse adds another destination in the east, but even those living in the west will find good reasons to visit, for some of the premier features at this water adventure centre. Here is how you can experience all of the coolest aspects of the facility while having plenty of fun. FLY DOWN THE BLACKHOLE OR SLIDE DOWN DOUBLE TROUBLE WITH A BUDDY Water slides are a star attraction at any water park and Aqua Adventure didn’t hold back when they designed their offerings. At 85-metres, the Blackhole Slide will plunge one quickly into its roaring depths, and feel much longer given how thrilling the 12 to 15-second journey will be. As intimidating as it may sound, one ride is all that’s needed to make you come back for another round. But if good things are meant to be shared, then hook your buddy up with Double Trouble. Hop onto the dual-rider float and have twice the fun as you whirl down the slide. At 114-metres long, it is Singapore’s longest indoor waterslide, so expect a gush of exhilarating adrenaline each time. FIND YOUR SUPERHERO STRENGTH BY SCURRYING ACROSS THE SCRAMBLE NET Aqua Adventure has both wet and dry play zones, and Scramble Net is one of the latter. Be like Spiderman as you clamber up a tunnel into a giant webbed enclosure, or summon your Black Widow-like stealth skills and tiptoe across a tyre bridge. Complete the round of seven obstacles, navigating past Bosun’s Loops and trusting your balance at Passage of Fear, and you’re assured of a victory your heroes will be proud of. The net obstacle arena is also great with friends as everyone gets to discover their strengths and weaknesses, and helping each other overcome their toughest challenge is frankly what being a superhero team is all about. CHALLENGE YOURSELF AND HELP YOUR BUDDIES ACROSS THE WET OBSTACLE COURSE Located above the laze pool, the Aquatic Challenge Rope Course offers seven engaging play scenarios, and players are encouraged to help each other conquer the obstacles. Whether it’s balancing yourself as you walk across narrow beams or keeping stable as you make your way over hanging steps, having your friends cheer you on is always a memorable experience. Safety is always a priority so players will be clipped into a full-body harness, and selected elements are cushioned to protect incidental bumps. The only thing you’ll have to worry about is conquering that illusion of height, and the periodic splashes from water buckets that fiendishly tries to throw you off as you make your way through the course. We never said it was easy! FLOAT AND CHILL AT THE LAZE POOL The Laze Pool offers an escape for anyone who wants to take things down a notch. Whether you just want to wade in and soak in the cool waters or opt for an idyllic paddle, the large pool has plenty of space to indulge in both. Best of all, it has a perfect vantage of almost all the play stations at Aqua Adventure. Pro tip: You can learn from others as they traverse the obstacle courses above. Look out for the special programmes arranged by the Aquatic Specialists – there are hourly games on floating pontoons open to everyone. Crank those competitive arms up for some jousting with foam noodles or tug-o-war, or even play a round of Captain’s Ball with a twist on the shifting platform. If you arrange for team-bonding events here, rest assured all will go as planned in Singapore’s first indoor water park venue, come rain or shine. BEAT YOUR BUDDY AT THE CLOCKWORK TOWERS Time for a climb up some quirky walls. It might surprise you but Aqua Adventure’s generous compound includes a five-lane rock climbing wall, but just like everything else at the water park, they come with their own spin. The auto-belay systems mean you don’t need to take turns clambering up the Clockwork Towers. Groups can have five participants simultaneously make their way to the top via the different routes, as they race against a timer or each other. Give the beginners the runged version on a “crumbling” wall, or attempt the traditional handholds up another two colourful paths. But to really understand the name, challenge yourself with the two thematic lanes featuring clock faces and clock gears. It’ll give even the most seasoned climbers a thrill with its unconventional grips, and even includes surprise interactive elements that will require smart manoeuvres. If you work up a sweat, it’s good to know that the pool’s just nearby for a refreshing way to cool off. Jump right into some splashing fun at Aqua Adventure at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir, open for bookings from 2 June 2023. Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the App Settings.
Show your appreciation for the mums in your life with these delightful deals on gifts, wellness treatments and family-friendly feasts.
Our writer learns that the first step to adopting a healthier lifestyle can be as simple as recording what you eat and do every day.
Interest rates are rising: Here’s what you need to know to help you make your savings work harder for you. TEXT: MELODY TAN Bank interest rates have been rising steadily during the last year, causing some home loan holders a corresponding increase in anxiety. But there’s a silver lining amid this uncertainty: This is also a good time to make your savings work harder and earn higher interest. Choosing the right type of interest-earning bank product, however, might be a challenge. After all, you don’t want to lock in your savings for years if you’re planning to further your studies, or buy a flat. Neither do you want to miss out on getting the maximum amount of interest possible. Here’s a handy guide on what you should look out for, when it comes to your own interest (rates, that is). LEARN WHAT PRODUCTS WORK FOR YOU Photo by Ishant Mishra on Unsplash Interest rates don’t just apply to savings accounts or mortgage loans. There are also fixed deposits, interest rate-linked structured deposits, Singapore Savings Bonds (SSBs) and offset mortgage accounts, to name a few. To decide which bank product works best for your needs, it’s best to first consider your immediate, mid-term and long-term financial goals. Financial experts recommend that before doing anything else, you set aside an emergency fund consisting of six months’ worth of your usual expenditure. Besides recurring bills, you’ll want to factor in food, transport and insurance premiums. If you anticipate collecting the keys to your new flat within the next two years, you might prefer a high-yield savings account or a 12-month fixed deposit over buying an SSB, as you’ll need to hold onto the latter for the full 10 years to enjoy the maximum interest rate. If you worry about unexpected expenses – such as medical bills – and need to maintain liquidity, an interest rate-linked structured deposit isn’t the best choice, as you may suffer major losses when you withdraw your money early. There might also be hefty transaction fees incurred. READ THE FINE PRINT Before investing your savings, always read the fine print carefully. Besides minimum time commitments, bank products may have other requirements you need to meet to receive the higher interest rate. It’s common for high-yield savings accounts to require a minimum monthly spend on a linked credit card, or for you to credit your salary, pay bills through GIRO or purchase an insurance product from the bank. You might also be required to maintain a certain minimum amount in the account at all times or end up incurring fall-below fees. Last but not least, it’s a good idea to assess the risk level of the product. For the risk averse, fixed deposits are a safe choice as up to $75,000 of your cash is insured by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation – so your savings are protected. MAXIMISE YOUR SAVINGS Be sure to look out for specific criteria that you can utilise to get the best interest rate possible. For example, if you know you’re going to be making large purchases soon – like flight tickets, hotel bookings or new furniture – check to see if this expenditure can help you to earn more interest. Some, like the DBS Multiplier Account, offer higher interest rates with higher transaction amounts. Similarly, the Standard Chartered JumpStart account is for those aged between 18 and 26, offering up to 0.50 per cent per annum interest and 1 per cent cashback on eligible purchases made with the Cashback Debit Card linked to your account (It certainly pays to be young). If the interest gets credited into your account on the 15th of every month, for example, it’s in your best interest (pun intended) to schedule large purchases or significant cash transfers for after the 15th, so that you can earn a larger amount of interest. Another option is to let your money work for you on digital platforms like Endowus. It is Singapore’s first digital investment advisor for CPF, SRS and cash savings. HomeTeamNS members enjoy 20-per-cent off Endowus fees for three years with a minimum investment of S$1,000. TO LEARN MORE, READ UP If you want to compare fixed deposit or bank account interest rates, there are plenty of online resources that have done the work for you. Some, like Singsaver, even provide helpful comparisons – such as between fixed deposits and savings accounts – to help you decide which product suits your needs best. Others like MoneySmart partner with banks and financial institutions for a seamless experience, allowing you to apply directly. Seedly encourages users to share opinions and insights, for a more community-oriented take on personal finance. If you’re new to personal finance literacy, check out MoneySense, Singapore’s national financial education programme. It offers handy articles and starter packs on basic topics such as understanding how savings accounts work, to more complex resources on different types of funds and investments. With higher interest rates available, it’s time to take an interest in your finances. Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App, and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the App Settings.
For REAL® Run Committee Chairman LTC (NS) Mohd Rozaiman Bin Rosidi, running is more than a fitness habit — it’s a way to bond with family, nurture values and give back to the Home Team community.
More than just about feeling good, investing in wellness can increase your odds of enjoying healthier, more independent senior years.
Stepping into the gym for the first time can feel daunting, but with these tips from Fitness Workz instructor Erny Elvina, you’ll have everything you need to start your fitness journey with confidence.
Whether you’re a newbie seeking casual rides or a seasoned cyclist preparing for your next race, cycling opens up new places and communities to explore.
Adventure awaits on your next holiday, so don’t just lounge by the pool. Blow off some steam with your family and friends by trying out exhilarating activities outside of Singapore. TEXT: MELODY TAN PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK Holidays aren’t just a time to laze around the beach or hotel room bathtub. They’re also a great time to step out of your comfort zone and have an adventure. Besides being a change of pace from the daily grind, engaging in adventurous outdoor pursuits has been shown in studies to increase happiness and life satisfaction, while reducing stress levels. Best of all, Singapore’s ideal location means that we’re a hop, skip and a short flight or ferry ride away from some of the most exciting regional destinations around, whether you’re a solo daredevil, or travelling with kids in tow. If you’re still looking for inspiration on where to travel to, here are some nearby accommodation options with discounts for HomeTeamNS members. 1. GO SURFING IN BALI The Island of the Gods has been a must-visit surfing destination since classic surf film Morning of the Earth (1971) depicted it as an idyllic paradise, with perfect white-capped waves crashing in slow motion on an unspoilt shoreline. These days, the original surfer town of Kuta is a highly-developed tourist spot bustling with cafes, bars and hotels. But Kuta Beach itself still has the same easy, small waves that suit beginners and less-confident surfers, and numerous surf schools along the sand to teach surfers of all ages the basics, including paddling, balancing and standing on a longboard. Advanced surfers will prefer Uluwatu, down south from Kuta and Ngurah Rai International Airport. The waves at Uluwatu are generally fast and powerful – rising as high as 15m in some places – and surfers have multiple breaks scattered along the coastline to choose from. Beware of sharp rocks and coral reefs, though. 2. FISH IN PHUKET The Andaman Sea is known for its beautiful blue waters, which are home to an intimidating array of big game fish: Sailfish, wahoo, mahi-mahi, barracuda, yellowfin tuna and marlin, among others. If the idea of hooking a fish bigger than a grown man, fighting it into submission and hoisting it up for a triumphant photo is one that floats your boat, head to Phuket. There are boat charters available with experienced captains who can bring you outside the National Marine Park no-fishing zone to an area known as the Drop-off, where large schools of tuna and other species loiter around sea-mounts, hoping to snack on the smaller fish taking shelter there. Be sure to practice responsible catch and release, so that any record-breaking fish you manage to haul in has a chance to live on, procreate and continue to play their role in the marine eco-system. And if the prospect of battling marine monsters is a little too tiring to contemplate, there are more relaxed cruises that offer a casual angling experience while island-hopping. 3. EXPLORE PENANG ON BICYCLE Tourists on two wheels will enjoy exploring Georgetown for its quaint cafes, famous street food stalls, charming wall murals (including the famous Children on a Bicycle) and fairly flat roads. But for an adventure outside the town centre, rent a bicycle and head out along the Eastern Coastal Route, a dedicated cycling path that runs from Georgetown to Queensbay in Phase 1, and from Queensbay to Batu Maung in Phase 2. Along the way, you’ll cycle across the Pinang River, pause for a breather by the seafront promenade named Dataran Persiaran Karpal Singh, and stop for a selfie at the Penang Bridge, which connects the island to the mainland. Going even further off the beaten path, head to the western side of Penang and ride from the kampungs of Balik Pulau down to Pulau Betong Fishing Jetty. Art aficionados will want to stop at Kampung Terang for the portraits painted and displayed on shipping containers, as part of the Penang International Container Art Festival. When you’ve reached the jetty, cycle up again – this time hugging the western coastline – in order to luxuriate in nature at the Balik Pulau Paddy Field and the Pantai Malindo Mangrove Forest. 4. TREK UP MOUNT BINTAN Bintan is more than an island full of resorts and golf courses. It’s also the home of Mount Bintan, a 336m high summit also known as Gunung Bintan Besar. Considered a fairly easy climb for amateur hikers, the trek up Mount Bintan can be accomplished in three to four hours. The trail is well maintained, making it a good choice for older children and groups of varying fitness levels. Start around 8am, and you can make it back to your resort by lunchtime, including the drive of less than an hour from most Bintan resorts. As you walk, admire the lush tropical foliage and let your guide educate you about the various plant and animal species living in the forest. At the end of the trail, you’ll find Kolam Puteri – known in English as the Princess Pool – and a waterfall where tired, hot climbers are known to take the occasional dip before settling back to enjoy the panoramic view from the top. 5. RIDE AN ATV AND MORE IN LANGKAWI Langkawi might be synonymous with the beach life, but for a shot of adrenaline, check out all-terrain vehicle (ATV) tours. These ATV adventures will bring you to plantations and traditional villages, and give you the opportunity to navigate through streams and paddy fields on your way to the Lubuk Semilang Waterfall, a popular stop for tourists. For those who prefer their thrills all in one convenient place, there’s the Langkawi Adventure and X-Treme Park. You can still go on an ATV jungle ride at the park, in addition to a wide range of other adrenaline-fuelled activities, such as the flying fox, indoor go-kart (perfect for rainy days), paintball, archery, and the Langkawi SkyBike, which brings cycling up to a whole new level. For the latest updates on HomeTeamNS
With demand – and therefore prices – for tickets surging and extended passport processing times, here’s why your holiday preparations should begin now. HomeTeamNS is offering a colourful range of promotions to keep your holidays fuss-free! TEXT: MELODY TAN PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, THE BOATHOUSE PHUKET If your holidays in the last few years were spent on staycations (or just staying at home), it might be time to dust off your luggage and head to the money changer. As the world settles into the endemic phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are hitting the road. A recent survey found that in the next 12 months, eight in 10 Singaporeans intended to travel for leisure, with most of them heading to Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. So if you want to put your passport to work during the end-of-year holidays, it’s best to plan ahead – so that you can spend your vacation relaxing (and eating, and shopping, and exploring). CHECK THAT PASSPORT After all that anticipation, you definitely don’t want to get to Changi Airport only to realise that your passport has less than six months’ validity. In August, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reminded Singaporeans who want to travel during the December school break to submit their passport applications as soon as possible, to ensure they get their passports renewed on time. To save hassle, submit your passport applications online via the ICA website or MyICA mobile app, and collect your renewed passport from one of the 29 designated post offices. When taking your photograph, don’t forget to refer to ICA’s photo guidelines. A photo that needs to be resubmitted can delay your entire passport renewal timeline. DON’T SKIMP ON TRAVEL INSURANCE Due to the combination of pent-up travel demand and lack of manpower, airports around the world are experiencing higher rates of flight cancellations and delays compared to pre-pandemic days. Buying travel insurance will ensure that even if your holiday gets off to an unexpectedly late start, at least you get back some cash in return for the trouble. Most travel insurance policies cover delays starting from the six-hour mark. Tip: Make sure to read the terms and conditions of a travel insurance policy before you buy it – some policies exclude flight delays caused by operational issues, for example, so it’s best to check before purchasing. HomeTeamNS members enjoy a 20 per cent discount off Singlife Travel Insurance (Single Trip), with an additional 30 per cent discount for MHA Group Insurance members. All you have to do is download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App to retrieve the promo code and enjoy this perk. This discount is applicable for a single trip travel insurance only, and is valid till 31 July 2023. HAVE A PLAN B The days of playing it by ear are sadly, not yet back. Due to the pandemic, tourist attractions and services globally have been affected by shortages in resources and manpower – meaning that your travel experience might be affected by circumstances outside your control. Hotels may struggle to prepare rooms in time for check-in and restaurants might be slow to prepare and serve food. There have also been numerous closures of beloved tourist institutions. For example, the Ferris wheel in Tokyo’s Odaiba waterfront has shut down. Iconic restaurants, bookstores and theatres have all not been spared. In addition, airline ticket prices have gone up by an estimated 25 per cent due to a variety of factors. You might find that your dream destination is no longer as affordable as before. To avoid frustration (and disappointment) on your holiday, keep an open mind and have a Plan B ready. Plan your first choice of destination, accommodation or attraction, but research what’s nearby as well, just in case your original plans fall through. KEEP YOUR HOLIDAY FUSS-FREE, FOR MORE FUN Don’t want the hassle of planning and packing for a two-week itinerary? For a truly relaxed holiday option, consider a nearby getaway in Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand. Located in the heart of the city, Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur is offering HomeTeamNS members promotional room rates that start from RM250. The package includes breakfast for two persons and WiFi access. If you enjoy driving, take an easy three-hour road trip to nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site, Melaka. Hotel Casa del Rio, which means ‘Home by the River’ in Spanish, is located in the historic town centre for convenient access to Melaka’s heritage attractions and scrumptious food offerings. HomeTeamNS members enjoy an additional 5 per cent off the hotel’s best available rates and selected room packages, as well as 10 per cent off the restaurant’s à la carte menu. Otherwise, you can live that #beachlife over at Casa del Mar Langkawi, which is set on Instagram-worthy Pantai Cenang beach. Casa del Mar, which means – you guessed it – ‘Home by the Sea’, is a Mediterranean-style resort only 10 minutes away from Langkawi Airport, so you can start your vacation ASAP. When the sun goes down, don’t forget to check out the array of restaurants and the night market located nearby. For stays between 1 November to 15 December 2022, HomeTeamNS members enjoy 10 per cent off the best available rates. Overlooking Kata Beach, The Boathouse Phuket is offering HomeTeamNS members 10 per cent off the best available room rates, till 23 December 2022. For luxe living by the sea, The Residence Bintan is offering HomeTeamNS members 15 per cent off room rates with complimentary ferry to resort land transfers from Sundays to Thursday (excluding public holidays) and 10 per cent off recreational activities. If you’re itching to go further afield, there’s always Hard Rock Hotel Bali in the beating heart of Kuta, which is synonymous in Bali with shopping, eating and entertainment. Check out the exclusive room rates for HomeTeamNS members ranging between IDR 1,225,000 per night for a Deluxe Room to IDR 1,475,000 per night for a Deluxe Premium Room. Great accommodation deals also await HomeTeamNS members heading to Hard Rock Hotel Penang and Hard
With the volatility of fuel prices and improving charging infrastructure, is this a good time to switch to an electrified car? TEXT: LEOW JU-LEN PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK Have you started to wince each time you fill up your car? Fuel prices have started to drop after hitting near record highs recently, but motorists can’t be blamed for feeling concerned about volatile prices. Assuming 1 litre of 95 octane fuel costs about S$2.70, and the typical driver in Singapore covers 14,600km a year, using a reasonably economical car that covers 12km per litre, the annual fuel bill would be about S$3,285. Following some simple fuel-saving tips would help reduce fuel costs to some extent, but an electrified vehicle could really help car owners reduce their fuel bills significantly, especially if owners opt for an electric vehicle (EV). According to the Land Transport Authority’s online fuel cost calculator, the BYD Atto 3 EV, travelling 14,600km per year, would cost about S$1,218 a year to charge — even if the driver only uses the more expensive Direct Current (DC) public fast chargers (at an assumed rate of $0.55/kWh). AN IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME? A 3D rendering of an electric vehicle showing its relatively simple layout, with the large battery pack spread out low between the wheels to reduce the car’s centre of gravity. In this example, the car is equipped with 2 electric motors driving the front and rear wheels. While it may be too early to say that we’ve reached a tipping point, electrified vehicles are becoming more popular on Singapore roads. Land Transport Authority (LTA) figures show that EVs and cars with some sort of hybrid technology are slowly gaining market share. By the end of June 2022, these electrified cars numbered 61,705, up 11.1 per cent compared to the start of the year. Over the same six-month period the overall car population grew just 0.45 per cent. While cars that run purely on petrol or diesel still dominate, their numbers are starting to decline, with 581,801 here as of 30 June 2022, down from 586,512 at the start of the year. Electrified cars essentially run on a combination of internal-combustion engines and battery power, or pure electricity. The same basic principle applies – the more electricity you use to power a car, the less fossil fuel you have to burn. DIFFERENT SHADES OF ELECTRIFICATION Full hybrids have a large electric motor and battery that can drive the car by itself, but the car’s internal-combustion engine still provides a lot of the system’s power. After decades of development, hybrids have finally hit the mainstream. These consist of three types: Mild hybrids, full hybrids (also known as self-charging hybrids) and plug-in hybrids. Mild hybrids similarly to conventional car with an internal-combustion engine, offering only a slight improvement in fuel consumption. They typically have a small starter-generator that stores electricity whenever the car slows down and uses it to give the engine a mild assist at low speeds. Full hybrids have a larger motor that can drive the car by itself, along with a larger battery to power it, but an internal-combustion engine still does the heavy lifting. The setup can be effective, however. The Toyota Yaris Cross (a compact Sport Utility Vehicle) can squeeze 26.3km from 1 litre of petrol. Nissan’s e-Power system uses an electric motor to propel the car exclusively. But it has a small petrol engine that is used only to recharge the batteries. Nissan says that gives drivers a car that feels and drives like an EV, but one that can be quickly refuelled at any petrol station. The Nissan Kicks e-Power, a family SUV, gets a fuel-consumption rating of 20.4km per litre. UNPLUG AND PLAY Plug-in hybrids are essentially short-range EVs with an internal-combustion engine for long-distance drives and maximum acceleration. Some cover 30km to 40km purely on electric power, but newer models can go much further. The Lexus NX 450h+ for instance, has covered 60km on a full charge in local testing, while Mercedes-Benz claims some of its plug-ins are good for nearly 100km. The idea is to drive to work and back, plug your car in and repeat. Longer road trips are still possible but in such cases the brunt of the work will be done by the internal-combustion engine. Full EVs that don’t need daily charging. Most cover 300km (enough for about one week’s driving here) with ease, and many are good for at least 400km on a single charge. Mercedes says its flagship electric car, the EQS, can travel 770km without stopping. IS THE PRICE RIGHT? Whether an EV would make it worth your while to bid farewell to petrol power, many offer upfront savings. The Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) provides tax incentives of S$15,000 or S$25,000 for cars that emit the least pollution (the cleaner the car, the greater the rebate), and though emissions from power generation are factored into the calculations, most EVs qualify for a rebate. On top of that, an EV Early Adoption Incentive (EEAI) worth up to S$20,000 is in place to narrow the gap between battery-powered cars and their combustion rivals. Many hybrids are eligible for a S$15,000 VES rebate, but only EVs qualify for the maximum S$25,000 incentive. Together with the EEAI, owners of some EVs can enjoy combined rebates of S$45,000. DOLLARS AND SENSE With Certificate of Entitlement prices also at or near all-time highs, whether or not it makes financial sense to switch cars now just to save on energy costs is an open question. However, if you were planning to buy a new car anyway it might be worth giving an electrified one serious consideration. A full hybrid will save the most at the pumps for any driver who feels less than confident about finding a charging station. On the other hand, EV charging has started to become ubiquitous, with 250 locations around the island offering a place to plug in. DC charging can add a week’s worth of distance to an
What should you do if you’ve unintentionally clicked on a link that could cause you to fall victim to an online scam? TEXT: MELODY TAN IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK By now, most of us are more than familiar with scams like bank-related phishing attempts, fake tech support and investment fraud – the top three most common scams in Singapore. After all, they’ve been highlighted in the news and other media. But even the most well-informed netizen might still fall for a suspicious link, especially when distracted or tired. According to author and psychologist Maria Konnikova, anybody can be a successful scam target under the right circumstances. Even if one doesn’t fall for the scam entirely, just clicking on the link could lead to unwanted consequences. In the worst case scenario, losses can occur even without giving away one’s personal details or passwords. Since January this year, over S$7.1 million has been lost in Singapore to tech support scams, in which victims granted scammers remote access to their devices. So what can you do after you’ve clicked on a link that turns out to be a phishing website, or a suspicious download? There are steps you can take – as long as you act immediately. CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD If you’ve logged into an Internet banking link that turns out to be a phishing imitation, try to immediately change your password on the legitimate banking app or website. Every second counts in a situation like this, as scammers can siphon out your money in a matter of minutes. If you’re in the habit of recycling passwords, make sure to change your password everywhere else that you’ve used it. Set up a new, individual password for each app or website. Tools like password managers to help with this. SCAN YOUR SYSTEM If you’ve been duped into installing any apps or programmes, uninstall them immediately. Next, scan your device with anti-virus software to ensure that the link you’ve clicked on – or the attachment you opened – hasn’t managed to install nasty malware. Often, scammers may send out e-mails with links that pretend to be for online shopping deals or interesting news articles. These lead to websites which require you to click a download link to view videos or access more content – and thus unwittingly install malware on your device. The malware creates a backdoor that allows scammers to remotely access your computer, collecting passwords, files and information that can be used to steal your money and even your identity. While you scan your computer, make sure it isn’t connected to the Internet so that scammers can’t access it or infect other devices in your network. TELL YOUR BANK AND WATCH YOUR FINANCES If your banking or credit card information has been handed over to the scammers, notify your bank so that they can take steps to safeguard your money. This can include freezing your accounts and ensuring that transactions are allowed to be processed only when the customer confirms their legitimacy, or notifying the customers of any significant changes in their banking activities. The Anti-Scam Command (ASC) of the Singapore Police Force (SPF)’s Commercial Affairs Department works closely with financial institutions on initiatives like Project Frontier, which enables bank accounts to be swiftly frozen if they are suspected to be involved in scammers’ operations. This has helped in the recovery of over S$200 million for scam victims since 2019, and the ASC is now working to bring on board other bank representatives by the third quarter of this year. After notifying the bank, it’s best to keep an eye on your accounts and credit cards over the next few weeks. Scrutinise even the most minor transactions to ensure everything is accounted for, as scammers may start with small amounts before working their way up to larger ones. MAKE A POLICE REPORT If you’ve lost money to the scammers, file a police report. Even if your money can’t be clawed back, you’ll be alerting the authorities to the presence of a scam – and you might be able to help others in danger of being scammed. In addition, if the link you clicked on was a fraudulent imitation of a real website or company, let them know so they can warn their customers or clients. You can also report the phishing attempt to the Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team (SingCERT). DOWNLOAD SCAMSHIELD Finally, download ScamShield to lower the chances of this from happening again. Developed by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and the Government Technology Agency, ScamShield uses artificial intelligence algorithms to filter out SMSes and phone calls that are made and sent by scammers. The AI algorithm catches SMSes that are likely to be spam and filters them into a junk SMS folder while also sending them to the NCPC and SPF to be collated. ScamShield is also able to compare incoming call phone numbers against a list that is regularly updated by the SPF to determine if the number has previously been used for illegal purposes. If the answer is yes, the call is blocked. To help fight scammers, users can also report scam messages from popular chat apps like WhatsApp, Wechat and Viber using ScamShield’s in-app reporting tool. Remember, while clicking on the wrong link can happen to anyone, staying calm and taking action can help prevent you from losing it all. It’s also important to be aware of the common scams in Singapore that begin with a click of a link. Here are some tips on how you can verify the links before falling victim to a phishing scam.