THE ANTI SCAM MASCOT DESIGN COMPETITION

The Competition is organised by The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) to discover a mascot that will be the best visual symbol of the fight against scams and trigger mental association among members in Singapore households with the need to be vigilant against fraud, a focus on positively inculcating in children and youths the appropriate mindsets and actions to enjoy digital banking services and the wider digital ecosystem safely.

The Mascot will identify and unify anti scam education efforts to households by ABS and the banking sector, as with previous national mascots, for example, Teamy the Bee for the National Productivity Campaign and Singa the Lion for the National Courtesy Campaign.

The mascot will serve as a visual rallying point to invoke customers to remember to ‘STOP and CHECK before clicking, in support of the anti-scam programmes of ABS and its member banks, which will centre on the following themes:

  • A recalibration towards prudence – a call to slow down, wait and check

  • Continued need to be alert and vigilant – a reminder not to let one’s guard down, given our inherent psychological weaknesses; and

  • Everyone needs to play their part in making Singapore a safe Smart Nation

The winning mascot design will be used by ABS and its member banks in various anti-scam programmes. It will be deployed in a variety of mediums, including animations, marketing collaterals (such as key chains, fridge magnets, plush toys, car decals), and as a costumed character for roadshows, school skits and other activities.

The aim is to have the mascot be visually present throughout households to keep the anti-scam message top-of-mind among children, adults and seniors. In circumstances where someone is being socially engineered by a scammer, the mascot could help break the train of thought and help them avoid being defrauded.

MASCOT DESIGN REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

The Mascot design, name and any accompanying taglines must meet the following criteria:

  1. The design must be an effective visual symbol for the fight against scams, by reminding customers to be vigilant against fraud and to remember to ‘STOP and CHECK before clicking'

  2. It should embody the following attributes:

    1. Alert and vigilant

    2. Savvy and empowered

  3. The Mascot should encourage confidence in digital banking services and the broader digital ecosystem, fostering a positive attitude towards being pro-active in safeguarding oneself against scams.

  4. It should appeal primarily to children and youth, and be relatable to Singapore culture and norms, as well as be acceptable broadly by society.

  5. The design must be practical and adaptable for use in different formats, mediums, platforms, sizes and for different purposes, e.g., marketing collaterals (such as animations, key chains, fridge magnets, plush toys, car decals), as a plush toy, and as a costume.

  6. The design must be original and created by the contestant, and does not contain, incorporate, or use any content or material that is owned by a third party or entity.

  7. No derogatory, offensive, threatening, defamatory, disparaging, libellous, inappropriate, indecent, sexual, profane, torturous, slanderous, discriminatory (in any way) designs; no design that promotes hatred or harm against any group or person.

JUDGING

Submissions will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Appeal

  • Alignment to purpose

  • Adaptability for use in different forms, mediums, scale

Judging will be done by a panel of five judges as follows:

  • Mrs Ong-Ang Ai Boon, Director ABS

  • Ms Loretta Yuen, Chair of the ABS Standing Committee on Fraud, Customer Education Workstream, and Head of Group Legal and Compliance, OCBC Bank

  • Ms Karen Ngui, Head of Group Strategic Marketing & Communications at ABS Chairman bank, DBS Bank

  • Mr Ng Khee Jin, Council Member of the National Crime Prevention Council and Creative Partner, Kheej LLP

  • Mr Tommy Lim, Creative Director, SPH Content Lab

PRIZES

First prize: $10,000

Second prize: $3000

Third prize: $2000

CONTEST PERIOD

The official competition period is from Wednesday, 16 April 2024 to Friday, 31 May 2024, both dates inclusive. Entry submissions before or after the official dates will be disqualified. All dates are subject to change. Entries will not be accepted after 6pm (close of business) on 31 May 2024. Thank you for your interest and participation.

Winners will be informed of the results by 18 June 2024. They will be invited to receive their prize at the ABS Annual Dinner on 28 June 2024.

ELIGIBILITY

The Competition is open to all Singapore citizens, permanent residents, work permit, professional, and student pass, holders. Organisations are eligible to participate.

SUBMISSION

Each submission must contain the following information:

  • Name

  • I/C or FIN Number

  • Occupation

  • Email address

  • Name of mascot

Entries may include a tagline to accompany the mascot design.

Please include the name of your company if you are submitting an entry on behalf of your organisation.

Please submit all entries using the official entry form available at https://forms.office.com/r/EdYviSCqcm

ORGANISER

The Competition is organised by ABS, with its principal place of business at 10 Shenton Way, #12-08, MAS Building, Singapore 079117.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

The top three designs submitted shall become the property of ABS, which shall have the right to reproduce and adapt them in any format or platform, e.g., photographs, slides, animation, as a Mascot character at roadshows, for publicity purposes.

All contestants must assign to ABS the right of reproduction of their works in the press, television and/or other publicity and print materials, e.g., marketing collaterals, and produced in connection with any anti-scam initiative.

USE OF PERSONAL DATA

Entrants agree that the personal data submitted with an entry, including name, mailing address, phone number, and email address may be collected, processed, stored and otherwise used by ABS and its stakeholders to conduct and administer the competition.

ABS reserves the right to publish the names and photos of any or all contestants and winners as well as any other entries on the contest site or through other media for publicity purposes.

PUBLICITY

ABS reserve the right to publish the names and photos of any or all contestants for publicity purposes.

By entering the Contest, entrants agree to participate in any media or promotional activity arising from the competition. ABS will inform contestants ahead of any media request for interviews.

WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY

Entrants warrant that their mascot designs are their own original work and, as such, they are the sole and exclusive owner and rights holder of the submitted mascot design and that they have the right to submit the mascot design in the Contest.

DISQUALIFICATION

Any false information provided within the context of the Contest by Entrant concerning identity, mailing address, telephone number, email address, ownership of right or non-compliance with any competition requirements, may result in disqualification.

DISCLAIMER

ABS is not responsible for any late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, undeliverable, or destroyed mascot designs.

RIGHT TO CANCEL, MODIFY OR SUSPEND

If for any reason the competition cannot proceed as planned, ABS reserve the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the competition.

ACCEPTANCE OF COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS

Submission of an entry signifies acceptance of the rules and regulations of the competition.