Meet Canny the chameleon: Association of Banks in Singapore unveils anti-scam mascot
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Anti-scam mascot Canny the chameleon was unveiled during the Singapore Fintech Festival at the Singapore Expo on Nov 6.
PHOTO: ABS
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SINGAPORE – Children and youth now have a visual reminder of the growing sophistication of scams and will soon have a fun way to learn the risks through interactive skits in schools.
Canny the chameleon, an anti-scam mascot, was unveiled by the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) on Nov 6 during the Singapore FinTech Festival at Singapore Expo.
The chameleon, which was the winning entry of the ABS Anti-Scam Mascot Design Competition in June, is the work of 10-year-old Constance Ambre Le Grand de Mercey.
ABS has commissioned ACT 3 Theatrics to perform anti-scam skits with games and quizzes in primary and secondary schools. This is expected to start in the first quarter of 2025.
ABS director Ong-Ang Ai Boon said: “We want the schoolchildren to get the anti-scam message early and help bring it home to their family members.”
The association’s local member banks – DBS Bank, POSB and UOB – will incorporate Canny into their anti-scam education efforts.
Canny will feature on T-shirts, fridge magnets and grocery bags, as well as an online sticker, an animated GIF, videos and plush toys.
In 2023, scam victims in Singapore lost $651.8 million
The top 10 scams of 2023 included those related to jobs, e-commerce and malware.
In the first half of 2024, victims lost more than $385.6 million. Should this rate continue, scam losses in 2024 could surpass the 2022 record high, the police said.
“Protecting our community from scams requires a concerted industry-wide effort. Through educational initiatives featuring Canny, we aim to spark more conversations on scam awareness and create a heightened sense of vigilance and care,” said Ms Karen Ngui, head of group strategic marketing and communications at DBS.
“It is essential for each and every one of us to always stay alert and informed amid today’s fast-evolving digital landscape.”
Standard Chartered Singapore has adopted the chameleon, which will make an appearance at the StanChart Singapore Marathon on Dec 1.
Two ABS teams, running in the Ekiden relay race, will wear Canny T-shirts in a show of support.
Mr Andrew Chia, StanChart’s head of wealth and retail banking for Singapore, Asean and South Asia, said: “Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it more important than ever for individuals to stay vigilant in protecting themselves.”
Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, Ms Karen Ngui’s title was stated wrongly. She is the head of Group Strategic Marketing and Communications at DBS. We are sorry for the error.
