Questioning the Effectiveness of Current Scam Warnings: Why Impersonation Still Works

Despite repeated public advisories, a woman still lost over S$1 million to a scammer using an MP’s photo. This raises serious questions about whether current warning campaigns are effective enough. The scammer exploited a common trust in public officials, a tactic that has been used in many past incidents. Even with police alerts and media coverage, such cons continue to succeed, suggesting that awareness alone is not sufficient. Critics argue that enforcement and takedown operations are too slow, while social media platforms fail to prevent impersonation accounts. The fact that the scammer could operate over several weeks without detection points to gaps in monitoring. Additionally, victims often face stigma, which can deter reporting and delay investigations. There is also a need to examine how personal data becomes accessible to scammers. Unless authorities push platforms to verify high-profile accounts faster and invest in real-time fraud detection, scammers will keep exploiting the same trust-based approach. This case should prompt a review of both prevention and response strategies.