Dangers of Vaping and Scams Empowers 1,000 Students with Awareness and Prevention Skills

The Student Services Department, in collaboration with the Student Recruitment Team of First City University College, conducted an impactful awareness talk titled “Dangers of Vaping and Scams” for 1,000 secondary school students at SMJK Yoke Kuan. The event aimed to educate young individuals on the harmful effects of vaping and how to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams—both digital and interpersonal.

The programme was conducted in two sessions: the morning session welcomed 500 students, followed by another 500 in the afternoon. Mr. Weladavi Rahula led the first half of the talk, focusing on the dangers of vaping. He discussed the serious health risks associated with vaping—including its impact on memory, concentration, and brain development. Highlighting substances like nicotine and diacetyl found in vapes, Mr. Weladavi debunked the myth that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking and urged students to consider the long-term harm to both personal health and the environment.

In the second half of the session, Ms. Teh Chia Li addressed the growing threat of scams. She introduced students to various types of scams such as phishing, love scams, job scams, and mobile application fraud. Ms. Teh also offered practical advice on digital safety—such as avoiding public Wi-Fi, creating strong passwords, and never sharing OTPs (One-Time Passwords). She equipped students with the knowledge to recognise red flags, especially when scammers attempt to manipulate victims through urgency or too-good-to-be-true offers.

The session concluded with tokens of appreciation presented by SMJK Yoke Kuan to both speakers. Feedback from students and teachers was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing appreciation for the relevant and timely content.

By empowering students with essential life skills and awareness, the university college reinforces its role as a proactive education partner dedicated to both academic and personal growth.