Nefarious NUS

As I was clearing the trash in my Microsoft Outlook today, I stumbled upon three emails that I thought was rather funny.

27 December 2005
SECURITY ALERT - CONMAN SUSPECTED TO BE AT NUS

On 16 Dec 2005 a NUS staff was approached by a stranger at the car park. The suspected Chinese national was properly dressed in office attire. He claimed that he came to NUS to look for a friend for help but realised the friend had gone overseas during this vacation period. The suspect explained his "troubles" and said that he had used up all his money. With his "NUS friend", not in Singapore, he has no one to turn to and needed help to tide through one night until his friend returns the next day. He was later joined by another Chinese national also in office attire. The NUS staff replied that he could not help them and suggested that they approached the Chinese embassy.

In a another recent incident at NUS, a similar suspect stopped a NUS staff whilst she was driving off to home and strongly persuaded her to provide him some money. Suspecting that he was a conman, the staff tried to drive off, but could not as the suspect leaned on to her car. He let off our staff only after collecting some money.

From the information that we had gathered there had been a number of similar cases in other parts of Singapore. We also received confirmation from the Police that tricksters and conman use such tactics to cheat the innocent during festive periods.

We advise all staff and students to be alert and to report anyone behaving suspiciously to Campus Security at 6874 1616. DO NOT hand over cash to strangers or provide accommodation to them.

Remember, be responsible and vigilant. DO NOT LET CRIME DISRUPT YOUR FESTIVE JOY.

For more security tips, please visit http://www.nus.edu.sg/oed/services/csd/security/index.html. Thank you.

P. Samynathan
Manager, Campus Security
Office of Estate and Development

By the second mail, I noticed the use of a boldened title and an exclamation mark.

28 February 2006
SECURITY ALERT - CONMAN STRIKES AGAIN!

Campus Security has received a fresh report of a conman and his accomplice operating on campus. In this latest incident, the victim (a NUS student) had sympathised with the two suspects and handed over some money - only to realise later on that he was conned. The suspects (a plump 1.7m tall Chinese male in his 30s with his hair dyed brown and his partner a plump Chinese female in her 20s who acted as a lookout), were well dressed in black and claimed that they needed money for accommodation and meals. The tricksters suggested to the victim to use his ATM card to withdraw money. They even provided a fictitious business card to the victim.

We strongly advise all staff and students to report strangers asking for money or behaving suspiciously to Campus Security at 6874 1616 or the Police at 999. DO NOT hand over cash to strangers or provide accommodation to them.

For more security tips, please visit http://www.nus.edu.sg/oed/services/csd/security/index.html. Thank you.

P. Samynathan
Manager, Campus Security
Office of Estate and Development

And as all stories go, the villian was soon caught.9 March 2006
SECURITY UPDATE - CON MAN NABBED

This is an update regarding con man who had tricked some of our staff and students on campus.

On 6 March 2006, a fellow NUS colleague (who was well aware of the con man situation on campus after reading our earlier Security Alert circulars) called Campus Security's hotline at 6874 1616 and provided reliable information on two suspicious characters loitering at the vicinity of the Faculty of Science.

Campus Patrol Team arrived at the scene and approached the two suspects. On being questioned the two suspects ran towards the direction of AYE-Dover Road. Our Security Officers gave chase but lost sight of the duo at the overhead bridge leading to Dover Road. After careful combing of the area, the Security Officers managed to track down the two suspects in front of Block 29 Dover Road. Police were summoned to the scene and eventually arrested the two male suspects.

The successful arrest of the con man will not be possible without the vigilance and cooperation of the campus community. Please continue to report suspicious characters at NUS vicinity by calling Campus Security at 6874 1616 or the Police at 999. DO NOT hand over cash to strangers or provide accommodation to them. Refer them to Campus Security if need be.

For more security tips, please visit http://www.nus.edu.sg/oed/services/csd/security/index.html. Thank you.

P. Samynathan
Manager, Campus Security Division
Office of Estate and Development

Of course, compared to the slew of peeping tom incidents in NTU (as reported by the Nanyang Chronicle), NUS also proudly owns a special breed of voyeuristic students, albeit with a significant difference.

Click to enlarge

Yes. Chinese male spotted in gents toilet peeping...
THANKFULLY and VERY GRATEFULLY, he was soon apprehended days after. He was caught red-handed in the act of filming over a toilet cubicle.
Heh.