Sat Nov 08 06:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Singapore Introduces Caning for Online Scammers Amidst Soaring Fraud Rates
Singapore – In a dramatic move to combat a surging tide of online fraud, Singapore has approved legislation allowing for the caning of convicted scammers. The measure, part of a broader effort to crack down on the crime, comes as the nation grapples with staggering financial losses due to increasingly sophisticated scams.
The revised law targets those found guilty of “cheating by remote communication,” and stipulates a minimum of six strokes of the cane, with sentences potentially reaching 24 strokes for the most severe offenses. In accordance with Singapore’s legal guidelines, only male offenders under the age of 50 are eligible for corporal punishment. Individuals acting as money mules, providing bank accounts or SIM cards to facilitate scams, may also face up to 12 strokes.
This stringent response reflects the alarming rise in scam-related crime. Since 2020, Singaporeans have lost an estimated S$3.8 billion (US$2.9 billion) to scammers. Last year alone, losses hit a record S$1.1 billion, and the first half of 2025 saw nearly 20,000 cases reported, with losses totaling S$456 million. Scams now account for roughly 60% of all reported crime in the city-state.
Authorities believe a significant portion of the scam activity originates from large networks operating in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos, often exploiting trafficked labor to run their illicit operations.
While Singapore already employs digital filters, bank transaction monitoring, and police account-freeze powers to combat fraud, the introduction of caning marks a significant escalation in its efforts. Similar to penalties for major crimes such as robbery, drug trafficking, and certain sexual offenses, officials hope the threat of corporal punishment will deter both local and international perpetrators.
Singapore’s crackdown mirrors efforts in other nations, such as China’s use of large-scale monitoring to intercept scam calls and messages. International attention has also been drawn to individuals like Cambodia-based businessman Chen Zhi, linked to major scam operations, whose assets have been seized by US authorities.
Whether the threat of caning will effectively deter overseas scam syndicates remains to be seen, but the Singaporean government is sending a clear message: engaging in online fraud will now come at a far greater cost.
First Piper 