Singapore has taken a hardline stance against scams, passing amendments to criminal law that impose mandatory caning on those involved in scam syndicates.
The Criminal Law Miscellaneous Amendments Bill, approved by parliament on Tuesday, targets the most prevalent crime type in the nation.
Under the new legislation, individuals who orchestrate scams or recruit participants will face between six and 24 strokes of the cane.
Mules, who assist in scam operations, will also be liable for up to 12 strokes, though the courts can exercise discretion. The penalties supplement existing fines and jail sentences for scam-related offences.
The law draws a distinction between levels of involvement. Those providing tools such as SIM cards, Singpass credentials or payment accounts to scammers will face caning if they knew or intended the items to be used for criminal activity.
Tools used without the owner’s knowledge may still attract punishment if reasonable steps to prevent misuse were not taken. Genuine victims who are deceived into providing such tools will not face penalties, officials said.
Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Sim Ann told parliament that scams now account for 60 percent of reported crimes in Singapore, with reported losses reaching approximately 3.7 billion Singapore dollars between 2020 and mid-2025.
The rising prevalence of scams, including those linked to international syndicates, has prompted a reassessment of penalties for financial crime.
The amendments also enhance protection for minors and vulnerable victims, criminalize doxxing of public servants, and recalibrate caning penalties for other offences.
Questions raised by MPs focused on balancing punitive measures with rehabilitation and mitigating circumstances, such as financial hardship. The law maintains the existing upper age limit for caning at 50 years, with alternative prison terms available.
Critics of scams argue that the penalties should be aligned with drug offences, citing the devastating impact on victims’ savings. Government officials insist the measures are calibrated to address varying degrees of culpability while safeguarding public servants and citizens from online harm.
