Singapore could cane those who commit scams and scam-related offences under proposed changes to Singapore's criminal law, local media reported on Tuesday.
Money lost through scams in Singapore stood at S$456.4 million ($350.9 million) in the first half of 2025, down 12.6% compared to the same period of last year, according to police statistics.
Scammers and members or recruiters of scam syndicates could face between six and 24 strokes of mandatory caning under the proposed changes.
Those who launder scam proceeds or provide national identification credentials and mobile phone SIM cards to scammers could face up to 12 strokes.
Offenders who have not taken "reasonable steps" to ensure their credentials are not used to commit scams may also be caned.
The punishment was first mooted in March this year during a debate over the home affairs ministry's budget.
The Singapore government has been taking steps to curb scams perpetrated against its residents.
In September, the home affairs ministry threatened, opens new tab Meta with a fine of up to S$1 million and fines of up to S$100,000 per day after the end of the month if it failed to introduce measures like facial recognition to curb impersonation scams on its social network Facebook.
Scammers will get at least six strokes of the cane, with the punishment going up to 24 strokes depending on the severity of the offence.
The Straits Times reported the enhanced punishments for scams come as the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill was passed in Parliament on Nov 4.
During its second reading, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann said scams are by far the most prevalent crime type in Singapore, making up 60 per cent of all reported crimes.
She said that between 2020 and the first half of 2025, there were about 190,000 cases reported, with losses amounting to about $3.7 billion.
“These are staggering numbers... The losses are more than 3½ times the cost of building Woodlands Health Campus,” she said.
According to figures provided to The Straits Times by the police, at least $187.1 million was lost to scams from July to September.
