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Singapore is taking a tougher stance against scams
Under new amendments to the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, scammers and those who assist them will now face mandatory caning in addition to jail and fines, according to Singapore Law Watch.
The bill was passed in Parliament on 4 November.
According to Sim Ann, the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, scams now make up 60% of all reported crimes in Singapore.
From 2020 to the first half of 2025, there were around 190,000 scam cases, resulting in over SGD3.7 billion (approximately RM11.9 billion) in losses.
"We are dealing with staggering numbers," she told Parliament.
"The message is clear: if you enable scams, even indirectly, you will face the full force of the law."
The idea of caning scammers was first raised in Parliament in March, after an MP shared how a resident lost her entire life savings to fraud
The Home Affairs Ministry later reviewed the proposal and agreed that tougher deterrence was needed.
While there were questions in Parliament about whether caning truly stops scammers, most MPs acknowledged the emotional and financial damage scam victims face.
Scams don't just empty bank accounts. Families lose retirement savings, migrants lose remittance funds, and seniors often lose confidence and trust in institutions.
This move puts scam-related offences in the same seriousness bracket as other high-harm crimes in Singapore. It also signals that even "small roles" in scam networks are now treated as criminal participation, not harmless favours.
If you provide an account, card, or identity to a scammer, you're part of the crime.
So, what do the new penalties mean?
- Scammers will face at least 6 strokes of the cane, with the punishment increasing to up to 24 strokes depending on the seriousness of the case.
- Scam syndicate members, recruiters, and coordinators are also included under this punishment.
- Money mules — those who provide bank accounts, SIM cards, or Singpass credentials — can be given up to 12 strokes at the court's discretion.
Money mules have been a major problem in Singapore's scam ecosystem. Many are recruited online through Telegram or job ads promising easy money.
Meanwhile, Malaysia is dealing with its own massive scam wave
A Gogolook survey last year found that Malaysians lost an estimated USD12.8 billion (RM54 billion) to scams in the past year alone. That's roughly 3% of the country's GDP.
The report also found:
- 74% of Malaysians encounter scam attempts at least once a month.
- 32% have actually lost money.
- The average loss per victim is about RM11,000.
- Only 2% manage to recover their funds.
- 57% of victims report lasting emotional distress.
AI-driven scams are rising fast, with deepfake voices and video making it harder for people to tell what's real. Yet 70% of scam victims never report their cases, citing scepticism over whether anything will happen.
At the moment, Malaysia does not impose caning for scams or scam facilitation. The broader conversation here tends to focus on public awareness, digital literacy, and enforcement improvements, while Singapore is now taking the heavy deterrence route.
