SINGAPORE: Scammers and their accomplices, including money mules, will face mandatory caning from Dec 30, as Singapore strengthens penalties to curb rising scam losses.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Friday (Dec 19) that scams remain a serious national concern, with both the number of cases and financial losses continuing to rise.
The tougher punishments follow the passage of the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act in Parliament on Nov 4.
Under the new law, scammers, syndicate members and recruiters will receive a minimum of six strokes of the cane, with up to 24 strokes depending on the severity of the offence.
Money mules who assist scam operations by providing bank accounts, SIM cards or Singpass credentials may face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes.
MHA cited figures showing scam losses of about S$3.7 billion from 2020 to the first half of 2025, involving nearly 190,000 cases. Police data further showed that at least S$187.1 million was lost between July and September alone.
In addition, offenders convicted under Section 420 of the Penal Code for serious non-scam cheating offences may also be liable for discretionary caning of up to 24 strokes from Dec 30.
Separately, amendments to the Children and Young Persons Act, passed in 2019, will also take effect on Dec 30. These changes allow cases involving youth offenders aged 16 to below 18 to be heard in the Youth Courts, while serious or repeat offences may be transferred to the State Courts or High Court for stronger sentencing.
MHA said the combined amendments aim to ensure more effective deterrence against serious crimes, including scams, unlicensed moneylending and drug trafficking. Source: Business Times
HackWarn Analysis
Why This Matters for the Public
Singapore’s move signals a significant shift toward deterrence-based enforcement in response to escalating scam losses.
By extending caning to scammers, syndicate recruiters and money mules, authorities are targeting not just the masterminds but also the facilitators who enable fraud operations.
Key Implications
- Money mules are no longer “low-risk” participants: Providing bank accounts or SIM cards now carries severe physical punishment.
- Stronger deterrence: Mandatory caning raises the cost of involvement in scam syndicates, especially for organised groups.
- Regional impact: As many scams are cross-border, tougher penalties may discourage syndicates from using Singapore as an operational hub.
- Public responsibility: Individuals who “lend” accounts or credentials can no longer claim ignorance as a defence.
HackWarn Advisory
Scam syndicates rely heavily on human enablers. With these new laws, the safest choice is simple:
Never share bank accounts, SIM cards, Singpass details or verification codes even with people you trust.
