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Singapore Cracks Down with Caning for Online Scammers
Singapore will impose mandatory caning for online scammers as part of a new crackdown following $2.8 billion in scam losses since 2020.
Scam Alert Warning with Cybersecurity Icons. Man holding smartphone while using laptop, warning sign for scams with icons online threats, phishing, cybersecurity, Unknown person, suspicious scammer, stock photo by Getty Images
Singapore will introduce mandatory caning for online scammers, the government announced on Tuesday, as authorities intensify their crackdown on syndicates responsible for record-high financial losses.
Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy lost more than 2.8 billion dollars through scams between 2020 and the first half of 2025, according to Sim Ann, Singapore’s senior minister of state for home affairs. She told parliament that about 190,000 scam cases had been reported during that period.
“We will introduce mandatory caning for scammers,” Sim said as an amendment to Singapore’s criminal code was presented for a second reading. “Offenders who commit scams, defined as cheating mainly by means of remote communication, will be punished with at least six strokes of the cane,” she added.
The government Is also tightening measures against scam syndicates that operate across the region. “These syndicates mobilize significant resources to conduct and profit from scams and have the highest level of culpability,” Sim stated.
Under the proposed law, members of scam syndicates and recruiters will face mandatory caning of at least six strokes, while those aiding scammers, including “money mules” who provide bank accounts or SIM cards, could face up to 12 lashes.
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Singapore has increased efforts in recent years to combat scamming through public education campaigns and digital tools. In 2020, the government launched the Scam Shield app to help users verify suspicious calls, messages, and websites. Authorities also operate a national anti-scam hotline.
Last year, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed he too had been scammed when an online purchase failed to arrive, highlighting how the Issue affects all sectors of society.
Across Southeast Asia, cyber scam hubs have rapidly expanded, luring foreigners into forced labor operations tied to online fraud schemes. On Friday, Singapore police announced they had seized more than 115 million dollars in assets linked to British Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi, accused of running forced labor scam centers in Cambodia.
The seizure followed an indictment by the U.S. Justice Department earlier this month charging Chen, 37, founder of Prince Holding Group, with leading one of Asia’s largest transnational criminal organizations.
As Singapore tightens its laws to hold scammers accountable, law enforcement officers continue to rely on precision and reliability in the field. Tools like the High-Speed Gear HSGI Kydex Handcuff Taco are built for quick access and durability traits that mirror the country’s fast and firm approach to tackling financial crime.
Editor’s Note:
This article details Singapore’s newly proposed legal amendments introducing mandatory caning for online scammers and syndicate members. All information is drawn from official parliamentary statements and verified law enforcement sources. The report highlights the nation’s intensified efforts to combat rising online fraud, which has resulted in billions of dollars in losses since 2020.
