Newspaper Review 3

Date: 1st Dec 08
Title: Identity Theft: In the end it’s up to you [A18]
The Straits Times, Part A

Outline:
Identity theft is getting more and more rampant in all parts of the world. A Microsoft Report showed that there is a 40% jump worldwide in the earlier half of this year in the number of computer viruses programmed to hack and steal bank account and credit card data. Singaporeans are conscious of this serious problem. However, some still unwittingly give out personal data to these thieves.

Reflection:
The numbers of people who get scammed are gradually rising. This is a serious predicament many people find themselves in nowadays. In this year, there are many cases of identity thefts, and these thieves are intelligent, coming up with many ways to prey on people’s weaknesses, like the love of money. One such way is by sending a false email telling them that they had won the lottery, and asking them to send their particulars in order to claim the monetary prize.

Are Singaporeans too gullible? I would think so, facing the statistics of identity theft. I am sure many an ignorant Singapore citizen has seen these false emails and eagerly replied to the sender, only realizing that they had been tricked afterwards. I myself have seen many false ‘pop-ups’ on the Internet telling me that I have won a prize. They even come in different languages sometimes. What atrocity! I merely shrug them off and continue on with whatever I was doing, but some people click on those messages, and get viruses downloaded onto their computer instantly.

I sincerely hope that this article can help to raise awareness amongst Singaporeans about these phishing scams, so that there will be less people falling prey to these tricksters.

Valerie Lim