Singapore Social Work: Research Methods.

Singapore Social Work: Research Methods Student's Name Institution Course # and Name Professor's Name Submission Date Abstract This qualitative study examines scamming in Singapore via in-depth interviews with varied respondents. The research aims to identify individuals' experiences, perceptions, and factors crucial in scammers successfully defrauding their clients. The purposive sampling that will recruit Singaporean residents aged 18 and above will ensure a good mix of demographics. Partakers will share their real-world stories, descriptions of scamming mechanisms, and ideas on how to avoid scams. The analysis examines the themes and discoveries to determine the most effective scam prevention strategies. Results show that some of the understandings of scam processes are very complex and show a significant priority on targeted prevention. Although there are positive insights, it is worth mentioning that there are also some biases, and the results can not be extrapolated to a large number of people. The suggestions indicate the need for regular research to improve the security aspects of fraud prevention. Keywords: Scams, Singapore, Semi-structured interviews, Susceptibility, Prevent Background and Literature Review Scams are now a global concern and are one of the significant issues that hamper personal financial security and collective socio-trust significantly. For the Singaporean government, the spate of scams is a big issue, which is the reason for the relentless alarm among law enforcement bodies and the public. An exhaustive literature review covering scams in Singapore reveals various factors behind the increase in cases and consequences for individuals and society. Bharne and Bhaladhare (2023) have investigated social networking fraud thoroughly, revealing scammers' complex methods to capitalize on social media platforms. The research articulates how technology aids in committing fraud and pushes for practical approaches to cyber fraud prevention. Even though the study concentrates on the internal processes of scammers, it does not make clear the psychological aspect of the situation of the victims of online fraud. Moreover, Kadoya et al. (2021) have undertaken a research study examining Japanese financial fraud victims, discovering their sociodemographic profiling and psychological factors that make fraudsters vulnerable. By studying risk factors they are linked, they found that age, gender, and cognitive decline were the essential factors in cases of victimization among the elderly. Nevertheless, the transferability of what they discovered to the context of Singapore might be in question because of the cultural and societal differences. Karpoff (2021) extensively examines financial fraud in the future, giving a glimpse into emerging trends and the challenges of offending behavior at the local and global levels. Karpoff's (2021) study is a valuable theoretical asset as it uncovers the changing face of scams and awakens the necessity of adaptability in order to tackle them better. However, the absence of experimental data restricts the universal application of his findings to a particular setting like Singapore. Lu et al. (2020) measured how both psychological factors and the issuance of scam preventive messaging influence scam victimization, demonstrating that emotions are essential. Their work has accentuated the role and implementation of key, prevention-oriented measures tailored towards eliminating emotional vulnerabilities and bolstering scam awareness among the public. Although the work of Lu et al. (2020) helps explain how people might fall for a scam, it only focuses on the emotional state, which may conceal the cognitive and socioeconomic sides of the victimization problem. Marzuki et al. (2020) proposed a good fraud risk management model based on content analysis, providing a complete framework for highlighting and decreasing fraud risks in financial institutions. The research of these scientists, thus, presents operable recommendations from the anti-fraud strategy point of view, showing the significance of active countermeasure systems. However, the scope of their model regarding the non-financial sectors and individual consumers raises novel questions that remain unanswered. The study of Mehta et al. (2021) focused on the role of forensic accounting in unveiling financial fraud, explicitly emphasizing the application of artificial intelligence as a mediator in fraud detection. Their study lays bare the opportunities technology provides in fighting scams and emphasizes the need to integrate social, psychological, and economic perspectives to prevent fraud. Nevertheless, scaling up and ensuring affordability may become a hurdle in adopting their proposed methods in the real world. In their paper, Tun and Birks (2023) presented a novel niche for natural language processing called scam script analysis, which can be used to understand the mechanisms of fraud activities. Their research relies on computer programs that can pick up characteristics of scam emails, providing law enforcement teams and the administration with hints on how to proceed with solutions to the issue. However, this approach only specifies the textual analysis of scam behaviors and excludes imminent contextual factors like social and economic inequalities, norms, and cultures. The research by Ueno et al. (2021) showcased that older adults with poorer cognitive performance faced an increased chance of being scammed, which is another indication of the importance of cognitive assessments in screening those scammers may target. This research underscores the observed truth that tailor-made strategies are vital in reducing cases of fraud among the vulnerable population. Nevertheless, the results obtained may not apply to cognitive profiles and lifetime stages, which are different from those of participants. Wen et al. (2021) exposed the credit-for-sex scheme scheme, showing how such an intricate form of fraud happens in Singapore. Their study involves an in-depth examination of scam techniques and the types of impact on victims, proposing a comprehensive strategy involving relevant interventions by the authorities to deal effectively with the existing weaknesses that constitute means for scammers to take advantage of the victims. However, the exclusivity of their research towards these indicators may ignore the broader socioeconomic factors that, in practice, increase an individual's scam vulnerability. Zhao et al. (2021) discovered a correlation between multiple large shareholders and corporate fraud in China, stressing the importance of corporate governance mechanisms in preventing fraudulent activities. Their research brings to the fore the necessity of transparency and accountability in containing the risk of fraud. It stresses the need to overhaul the regulatory system to monitor corporations better. Although the study focuses on the Chinese situation, the arguments, and guidelines still have universal value in other fraud prevention and detection matters. Importance of the Study The study proposed will add to the existing literature by exploring the socioeconomic and psychological determinants that impact the occurrence of scams in Singapore. This research aims to develop a synergy of diverse approaches from various disciplines like criminology, psychology, economics, and technology. It seeks to describe scam dynamics in detail and use them as the baseline for evidence-based scam prevention and post-scam victim support. The sampled question seeks to establish the interplay of personal vulnerability, deficiencies in the socio-economic sector, and the likely association of scam-prone victims within this population, which was not considered in the previous studies. The study utilizes an interdisciplinary approach and robust research methods to synthesize theory and practice that provide practical strategies for battling scams in Singapore. Research Question The question guiding this research is 'What are the socioeconomic and psychological factors causing an increase in scams in Singapore, and how can the understanding of these factors be utilized to implement effective preventive measures?' This research question will investigate the issues raised by previous studies on the technical aspects and the socioeconomic and psychological factors to shed light on scam susceptibility. By deploying an all-encompassing approach, the proposed examination aims to generate actionable inputs for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and the general public to constrict the effect of fraud in the Singapore Republic. This study aims to bridge the gap in the existing body of the literature and formulate an evidence-based policy for the prevention and intervention of scams in Singapore. Research Design While seeking to answer the research inquiry on scams in Singapore, a qualitative research approach is the most feasible be...