Singapore is taking a bold step in its war against financial sc@ms as the government moves to introduce mandatory caning for convicted sc@mmers under a new Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill.
During the bill’s second reading on Tuesday, November 5, Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Home and Foreign Affairs, revealed that Singapore lost over $2.8 billion to sc@ms between 2020 and mid-2025, with nearly 190,000 cases reported during that period.
According to Sim, the new measure will make caning compulsory for anyone found guilty of sc@mming, particularly those using remote communication to defraud victims. Offenders will receive at least six strokes of the cane, targeting the criminal masterminds who operate organized sc@m rings and profit massively from their schemes.
Under the proposed amendment, sc@mmers and recruiters working for sc@m syndicates face six to 24 strokes, while those acting as “money mules” handling illicit funds could get up to 12 strokes, depending on the court’s judgment.
The new penalties will be in addition to existing sentences for fraud-related crimes. Anyone who provides SIM cards, payment accounts, or Singpass credentials to fraudsters — knowingly or carelessly — will also face the lash.
Sim Ann noted that Singapore already enforces caning for over 90 offences, but the government is sending a clear message that cyber and financial crime will no longer be tolerated.
The bill also strengthens laws against non-consensual sharing of s3xual content, enhances protection for minors, and criminalizes doxxing of public servants.
