Canny the chameleon mascot aims to raise scam awareness among children and youth through interactive education.
On November 6, the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) unveiled a new anti-scam mascot, Canny the chameleon, during the Singapore FinTech Festival at the Singapore Expo. Canny, created by 10-year-old Constance Ambre Le Grand de Mercey, was the winning entry in the ABS Anti-Scam Mascot Design Competition.
The mascot will serve as a tool in educating children and youth about the growing sophistication of scams. ABS has partnered with ACT 3 Theatrics to perform anti-scam skits and interactive games in primary and secondary schools, starting in the first quarter of 2025. The goal is to equip students with the knowledge to identify and avoid scams, while also encouraging them to share the information with their families.
Canny will be incorporated into various educational materials, including T-shirts, fridge magnets, grocery bags, and online content like animated GIFs, videos, and plush toys. The mascot will also be featured in anti-scam initiatives by local member banks, such as DBS, POSB, and UOB.
In 2023, scam victims in Singapore lost $651.8 million, with the first half of 2024 already surpassing $385.6 million in losses. The unveiling of Canny the chameleon is part of a broader effort to combat scams through educational initiatives that raise awareness and foster vigilance in an increasingly digital world.
