Several fake bulk order scams involving the Ministry of Defence have occurred recently. SMUProfessor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Tay Straughan said that the cases of fake orders undermine trust, making it harder for those with genuine needs to receive timely assistance, which in turn weakens the collective spirit. She expressed hope that such scams would not persist, adding that if culprits in isolated cases were caught, it might encourage businesses to be more vigilant and restore confidence. At the same time, Prof Straughan believes that community spirit could turn the situation around, as organisations could step in to purchase bulk orders and distribute them to those in need, thereby transforming a negative episode into a positive outcome.
