Latest news with #StompingGround
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Another Stomper receives scam call from fake SGH staff, urges more awareness for elderly
Another Stomper receives scam call from fake SGH staff, urges more awareness for elderly Welcome to Stomping Ground - a space where Stompers share reflections, personal essays and social commentaries that spark conversation and insight. Yet another person has come forward about receiving a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Stomper GC wanted to share her own experience after reading an earlier Stomp report on how a 71-year-old retiree outsmarted a scammer claiming to be from SGH. The 69-year-old said she received a call on her landline on June 5 from a man speaking in Mandarin and claiming to be from SGH. "I kept asking him to speak in English, but he insisted that in Singapore, the majority can speak Mandarin," recounted the Stomper, who is semi-retired. "I told him, 'No, you called me, so you speak English'. "He was unable to so I raised my voice to tell him to stop asking me to speak Mandarin." Before hanging up, the caller made a remark in Mandarin: "这么激动干嘛" ("Why so worked up?"), which the Stomper called "a great joke." GC said she later contacted SGH's official hotline to check if similar scams had been reported and was told that the hospital was aware of such incidents. She was asked if she had shared any personal information with the scammer. "I told SGH that I did not give them the chance to ask me anything as I had insisted throughout that I wanted to communicate in English only," she said. "My objective in calling SGH was not just to check, but to urge them to raise more awareness among their patients. "Many elderly people at home, who may only speak Mandarin, are their patients and can easily fall prey to such scams." For more information on scams, members of the public can visit or call the ScamShield helpline at 1799. Have your say on Stomping Ground! Write in to us at stomp@ or WhatsApp 9384 3761. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Hougang resident finds own parcel left unattended at lift lobby, helps himself to it
Hougang resident finds own parcel left unattended at lift lobby, helps himself to it Welcome to Stomping Ground - a space where Stompers share reflections, personal essays and social commentaries that spark conversation and insight. A Hougang resident was puzzled to see two large packages left unattended at a HDB lift lobby in Hougang. He was even more surprised when he realised that one of the packages belonged to him. Stomper Roger said: "J&T Express left the parcels unattended in the front lift lobby (not level 1) on June 5. "I saw these parcels in the morning when I was heading to work at 6.20am. When I returned from work at 9pm, the parcels were still there, so I decided to take a look. "It surprised me that one of the parcels belonged to me while the other belonged to the next block. "Based on my tracking records, the parcel should still have been outbound in the sorting centre." Roger said he contacted the delivery company the next day and sent them a photo of the unattended packages. He asked: "Do you often see this kind of issue? "I told J&T that the lift lobby doesn't have any CCTV cameras. What if people took the items? They told me to provide CCTV footage from the lift and told them they should check with the authorities if they wanted it. "Anyway, I did not want to make trouble and told them I had already taken my own parcel." Have your say on Stomping Ground! Write in to us at stomp@ or WhatsApp 9384 3761. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Hougang resident asks if unattended parcels are a common sight after stumbling upon his own package
Hougang resident asks if unattended parcels are a common sight after stumbling upon his own package Welcome to Stomping Ground - a space where Stompers share reflections, personal essays and social commentaries that spark conversation and insight. A Hougang resident was puzzled to see two large packages left unattended at a HDB lift lobby in Hougang. He was even more surprised when he realised that one of the packages belonged to him. Stomper Roger said: "J&T Express left the parcels unattended in the front lift lobby (not level 1) on June 5. "I saw these parcels in the morning when I was heading to work at 6.20am. When I returned from work at 9pm, the parcels were still there, so I decided to take a look. "It surprised me that one of the parcels belonged to me while the other belonged to the next block. "Based on my tracking records, the parcel should have been still outbound in the sorting centre." Roger said he contacted the delivery company the next day and sent them a photo of the unattended packages, but has yet to receive a response. He asked: "Do you often see this kind of issue?" Have your say on Stomping Ground! Write in to us at stomp@ or WhatsApp 9384 3761. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Straits Times
71-year-old retiree outsmarts scammer claiming to be from SGH with fake name and info
71-year-old retiree outsmarts scammer claiming to be from SGH with fake name and info Welcome to Stomping Ground - a space where Stompers share reflections, personal essays and social commentaries that spark conversation and insight. A 71-year-old retiree recently received a call from an alleged scammer who nearly tricked her into divulging personal information. Stomper Sarah told Stomp she received a call on her landline on June 4. "When I picked up the call, it immediately started with a recorded message in PRC Mandarin, which immediately put me on high alert," she said. "The message then continued and claimed to be calling from Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and that they were calling regarding a problem with my records." A man later introduced himself as a representative from SGH, asking for Sarah's name, to which she responded with a fictitious one. "I put on a soft, feeble voice to mimic that of a frail old woman," she shared. The scammer then proceeded to ask personal questions, and Sarah, suspecting the call was a scam, began feeding him misleading information. "He asked me to wait a while and came back shortly, saying he had checked his computer and found my name and medical record," she recounted. "I told him I was 72 and a retired bank manager to lure him into thinking I had plenty of savings. "I also told him I was living alone, had no children and needed a walking stick. "Despite my telling him I hardly left the house, he said according to his records, I had ventured overseas on May 17 and May 23 and bought several syringes of intravenous morphine. "I denied it but he kept insisting. "I told him not to ask again or I would hang up, so when he did, I immediately ended the call." However, the scammer's persistence didn't stop there. A few minutes later, another man with a Chinese accent called, claiming to be the first scammer's supervisor. "He thought I was an easy target and tried to pressure me again," Sarah said. This time, Sarah switched to her normal voice, telling the caller that she had given a fake name and was aware that he was a scammer. "I told him what he was doing was evil, that heaven has eyes and that karma would strike him and his loved ones," she added. "Of course, he hung up immediately." Sarah told Stomp that whenever she receives such calls, she indulges them to find out what 'fairy tales' they are going to tell her so that she can report them on ScamShield. "I also share these with my contacts so they can be alert to such scams," she said. "I always tell these fraudsters that they are truly evil to scam old folks and that karma will strike their loved ones one day." However, despite her efforts, some people she has warned still fall for scams. "My ex-colleague in her 40s was scammed of her life savings," she said. "She is a divorcee working as a clerical officer and supporting two children and her old parents on her salary. "Now, she has no savings. I hope the scammers will be visited by karma. "I also know a dishonest person, a gambler and con-man with many unpaid debts. "He admitted he finally knows karma is real, watching his father suffer terribly because of his actions." Have your say on Stomping Ground! Write in to us at stomp@ or WhatsApp 9384 3761. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
Daily Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Daily Telegraph
What is a Priority Pass for lounge access at the airport and is it worth it?
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Rip off or the real deal? I'm travelling to Europe in a few months and don't have lounge access or status. I'd like to get into a lounge for my trip. Is Priority Pass worth it? If you're going to spend a bit of time in airports over a 12 month period, but don't have a ticket or status that gets you into a lounge, Priority Pass can be a good option. Even if you're only travelling a few times in a year, it can make sense if lounge access is non-negotiable for you. Let's break it down. What is Priority Pass? It's your ticket to 1,700 lounges in 600 cities and 145 countries including Australia. The program works as an annual membership which grants you lounge access over a 12-month period. Most Priority Pass lounges offer drinks, snacks, free Wi-Fi and somewhere comfortable to sit. Some offer hot buffets, complimentary spa services and even the ability to fast-track you through the immigration queue. If an airport doesn't have a lounge or you feel like something different, Priority Pass offers a $36 food and drink credit at selected restaurants and bars. For example, if you're killing time in Melbourne's domestic airport, you can have a pint at the Stomping Ground Brewery and Beer Hall, or pop into Luke Magnan's Luke's Bistro & Bar at Terminal 2 in Sydney. Lounge access can be a godsend during airport delays. How much does it cost? There are three membership tiers starting at US$99 ($154) all the way up to US$469 ($730). For the standard membership tier, every time you go into a lounge, you'll pay US$35 ($54) and an additional US$35 for a guest. As the tiers progress, you have more freebies into terms of member visits. Membership to Priority Pass can go on sale on occasion so sign up to the newsletter to stay in the loop. For those holding premium credit cards, Priority Pass often comes bundled as a benefit, which can offset the cost entirely. Cards like the American Express Platinum, Westpac Altitude Rewards Black or Amplify Signature offer complimentary Priority Pass membership. Certain credit cards include Priority One access. Cons It isn't without drawbacks. For one, not all lounges are created equal. Some are small and may have limited amenities or space, particularly during peak hours. Another issue is access restrictions. Even as a member, you might be turned away from a lounge that is at capacity. This can be frustrating particularly if you planned to rely on the lounge for a meal or to rest. If your travel is infrequent, the annual fee might not be justified. For casual travellers, the pay-per-visit costs may outweigh the benefits unless each trip is lengthy or includes significant wait times. Pros One of the biggest draws of Priority Pass is its global reach. Whether you're flying out of Sydney or transiting through Singapore, chances are there's a participating lounge nearby. For frequent international travellers, particularly business travellers or those with long layovers, this access can be a game-changer. It's all so much more civilised in the airport lounge. Is it worth it? Priority Pass can be a smart investment for those who travel often, especially internationally. The peace, comfort and convenience it offers can significantly improve the travel airport lounges internationally will generally cost more than a membership, Priority Pass offers a solid alternative. If your credit card includes it for free, it's a no-brainer. If you're paying out of pocket, assess how often you're planning to travel and whether you need lounge access on your trips. Ultimately, it comes down to your needs, budget and travel style. Have a question about points? Drop Sabine an email at escape@ Personal replies are unfortunately not possible. Originally published as What is a Priority Pass for lounge access at airports and is it worth it?
