Singapore is mulling over the possibility of introducing caning as a punishment for serious scam-related offences, as the city-state grapples with record-high losses to scams.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling announced this consideration during a parliamentary debate on 4 March 2025.
“We will consider caning to be prescribed for certain scam-related offences, recognising the serious harm they can cause,” Sun stated.
Alarming Rise in Scam Cases
The proposal comes in response to alarming statistics. In 2024, Singapore residents lost at least S$1.1 billion to scams, marking a 70% increase from the previous year.
Member of Parliament Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC) had earlier called for mandatory caning for scammers in serious cases.
“We must send a clear message to scammers, the syndicates and those who abet them: If you mess with our people, make off with the life savings of Singaporeans, scam Singaporeans, we must do everything in our power to teach the scammers a lesson they won’t forget,” Tan emphasised.
The government’s consideration of caning as punishment reflects the severity of the scam situation in Singapore. The total number of scam cases increased by 10.6% to 51,501 in 2024, accounting for 92.3% of cybercrimes reported that year.
Sun also noted that jail terms had been imposed for offences which facilitated scams, following recent guidelines by a sentencing advisory panel. One case resulted in a sentence as high as 19 months.
Current Penalties and Evolving Tactics
Scammers have evolved their tactics. Sun revealed that they now ask victims to convert their money to cryptocurrencies before transfers, bypassing banking safeguards. Crypto-related cases accounted for nearly 25% of all scam losses.
The number of reported scams occurring via the messaging platform Telegram, which provides user anonymity, almost doubled in 2024.
Government’s Response and Recommendations
In response to these trends, Sun advised Singaporeans “to steer clear of cryptocurrencies” and urged Telegram to adopt stronger verification measures.
The Singapore government has been intensifying its efforts to combat scams in recent years. In 2020, they introduced the ‘ScamShield’ app, allowing users to check suspicious calls, websites, and messages.
Potential Alignment with Existing Laws
If implemented, caning for scam offences would align with existing penalties for other financial crimes. For instance, under the Moneylenders Act, individuals whose bank accounts are used to assist unlicensed moneylenders face fines between S$30,000 and S$300,000, up to four years in jail, and up to six strokes of the cane.
As Singapore considers this stringent measure, the message is clear: the city-state is taking an increasingly tough stance against scammers and their evolving tactics.
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