Singapore Approves Caning for Scammers and Money Mules After Billions Lost to Fraud

Why Singapore is turning to corporal punishment

Singapore has passed sweeping criminal law changes that introduce caning for scam offences after victims in the city state lost almost S$4 billion to fraud since 2020. Lawmakers approved the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, creating mandatory caning for scammers and key members of syndicates and allowing courts to order caning for money mules who knowingly assist or enable scams. The government framed the move as a message to those who profit from remote deception and to those who supply the tools scammers need to reach victims. Scams now account for around 60 percent of all reported crimes in Singapore, a shift that has placed financial and emotional strain on households and the wider economy.

Under the new framework, convicted scammers, syndicate members and recruiters face mandatory caning of at least six strokes and up to 24 strokes, depending on the seriousness of the offence and the role played. Money mules, including people who supply bank accounts, SIM cards or Singpass credentials, may receive up to 12 strokes at the court’s discretion, alongside jail terms and fines. The law also introduces caning as a possible punishment for other forms of cheating when a judge finds the conduct comparable in blameworthiness to modern scam operations. The approach is calibrated to reflect different levels of culpability, with judges instructed to consider intention, knowledge and the scale of harm.

The scale of the problem has grown with the spread of online platforms and cross border criminal syndicates. Police data show hundreds of millions of dollars in losses each year, and authorities say most scam approaches now begin online or by phone. The government has stressed that corporal punishment is only one part of a broader strategy that includes tighter rules for digital platforms, stronger banking safeguards, faster disruption of criminal money flows and public education to help people spot fraudulent messages and fake websites.

How mandatory and discretionary caning will be applied

The new law draws a sharp line between those who run and profit from scams and those who assist them. Mandatory caning now applies to scammers and to members or recruiters of scam syndicates. Courts can impose between six and 24 strokes, with the exact number based on factors such as the sums involved, the number of victims, the degree of planning and coordination, and whether the offender targeted vulnerable people. These strokes come on top of existing sentences for scam offences, which can include long prison terms and heavy fines. Prosecutors are expected to seek higher sentences for organizers and repeat offenders, while mules who play a smaller part face a lower range but still risk caning if they acted with knowledge or recklessness.

For those who facilitate scams by providing tools or credentials, caning is discretionary. The law states that courts should consider whether the person intended or knew that items like bank accounts, SIM cards or digital identity credentials would be used in scams, or whether they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent misuse. Judges can weigh evidence that an offender ignored clear warnings, brushed aside red flags, or turned a blind eye to obvious signs of crime. Authorities have said genuine victims who are deceived into handing over their details will not be punished. The aim is to dissuade willful assistance while avoiding unfair outcomes for people who are tricked by sophisticated operators.

Who can be caned in Singapore

Judicial caning in Singapore is tightly regulated. It is imposed only on male offenders who are under 50 years old and medically fit. A medical officer must certify fitness before the sentence is carried out, and a doctor is present during the punishment. Offenders who cannot be caned due to age or health may receive additional imprisonment instead. Women are not subject to caning under Singapore law. These safeguards do not reduce the severity of the punishment, which remains one of the harshest penalties in the system.

Courts can order a maximum of 24 strokes of the cane in a single trial. Caning already exists for several serious crimes, including rape, robbery, drug trafficking and illegal moneylending. With scams now listed among offences that can draw the most severe corporal punishment, the government is signaling that modern fraud is treated as a grave harm that undermines security and trust in daily life.

Scam surge by the numbers

Scams have surged to become the dominant crime type in Singapore. From 2020 to the third quarter of 2025, about 190,000 cases were reported, with losses estimated at roughly S$3.88 billion. Police reported that S$456.4 million was lost in just the first half of 2025. Between July and September 2025 alone, victims lost at least S$187.1 million. The year 2024 saw more than 51,000 cases and losses of around 840 million US dollars, a jump of about 70 percent from the year before, according to authorities.

The most common schemes include investment scams, impersonation of public agencies or bank staff, fake job offers promising quick commissions, and e commerce fraud involving bogus listings or payment redirection. Many scammers operate from overseas, using social media, messaging apps and spoofed phone numbers to approach victims. The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that in the first half of 2025, scammers reached victims through online platforms in about 82 percent of cases, a figure that reflects the shift of criminal activity to the digital sphere.

Losses affect every demographic, from young adults enticed by fake trading opportunities to seniors contacted by callers pretending to be officials. The financial hit can be devastating. Families have reported losing life savings, and some cases have led to tragic outcomes. The societal costs include stress on law enforcement and compliance resources, higher security spending by banks and telecom firms, and reduced confidence in online commerce.

What the new rules mean for money mules and enablers

Money mules play a crucial role in scam operations by helping criminals move and hide funds. They may open bank accounts, sell access to existing accounts, withdraw cash on behalf of syndicates, or register mobile lines and hand over SIM cards to recruiters. Many receive small payments for their role, often after answering online adverts or messages that claim to offer easy money or urgent help. Some understand they are assisting crime. Others claim they did not realize the danger. The law targets those who act with at least recklessness or who ignore clear signs that their actions enable scams.

Under the amendments, courts can order up to 12 strokes for mules, alongside jail and fines, when the evidence shows intention, knowledge, or failure to take reasonable steps to prevent misuse of accounts and credentials. Prosecutors have emphasized that financial hardship is not a defense for assisting scam groups. At the same time, authorities say that people tricked by elaborate lies would not be prosecuted as enablers. The aim is to dry up the supply of local accounts and phone lines that make it easy for overseas syndicates to reach victims and cash out quickly.

Other changes in the law beyond scams

The same Bill updates a wide range of offences to keep pace with online harms. Penalties rise for circulating obscene material to ten or more people, with a maximum jail term of two years. If the material involves someone under 18, the maximum rises to four years. The law now targets those who set up or manage online locations for circulating obscene content, including administrators of chat groups, blogs or video accounts. New offences criminalize the non consensual production of intimate images, including realistic computer generated depictions of children and other AI generated sexual content. The amendments make clear that consensual sexting between adults is not an offence, while non consensual sharing remains punishable.

Sexual grooming laws are tightened, with higher maximum jail terms when the victim is under 14 and new provisions that cover meetings planned or carried out overseas if either party travels from Singapore. These changes aim to address the reality that predators can reach victims across borders, using digital tools to draw them into risky situations. By extending jurisdiction and raising the ceiling on penalties, authorities seek to make grooming tactics less attractive and easier to prosecute.

For cases involving fatal abuse of vulnerable victims, such as children and domestic workers, the maximum jail term rises to 30 years or life imprisonment. Doxing of public servants accompanied by falsehoods is now a criminal offence that carries up to three years in jail and a fine of up to S$10,000. The law also allows State Courts and the High Court to impose deterrent sentences on older youth offenders aged 16 and 17, including imprisonment, reformative training and caning in appropriate cases. In a separate practical measure, rules for workers and dealers in precious metals have been tightened by increasing the waiting time before altering or melting goods, giving police more time to trace stolen items.

Debate over deterrence, proportionality and ethics

Members of Parliament pressed for stronger action against scams during the debate, with some calling for even tougher penalties and others questioning whether caning deters crime. The government’s reply stressed that penalties must be calibrated to reflect culpability. Senior officials argued that those who lead syndicates deserve the harshest treatment, while courts should consider intent and the role played by money mules. The law distinguishes between people who knowingly facilitate scams and victims who were tricked into assisting.

The question of deterrence has long divided scholars and policymakers. Many criminologists argue that the certainty of being caught matters as much as the severity of punishment. Police and regulators in Singapore have responded by pairing stiff penalties with more proactive disruption of scam operations, faster freezing of suspect funds, and tighter cooperation with banks, telecoms and online platforms. Supporters of corporal punishment say it sends a clear signal that scams are treated as a serious assault on public safety and trust.

Caning remains controversial. International rights groups have often criticized corporal punishment as cruel or degrading. Singapore maintains that caning is part of a lawful and structured sentencing framework, carried out under medical supervision and reserved for serious crimes. The debate is likely to continue as the courts apply the new law and assess outcomes over time.

Enforcement, tech measures and cross border action

Singapore’s anti scam strategy extends beyond the courtroom. The Ministry of Home Affairs has pushed digital platforms to cut off scam content and impersonation accounts more quickly. Authorities warned Meta that it could face fines of up to S$1 million, and further daily penalties, if it fails to introduce stronger safeguards such as facial recognition checks to curb impersonation scams on Facebook. Regulators have also urged banks and telecom operators to strengthen authentication and transaction monitoring, while rolling out public campaigns that teach people to identify scam scripts and suspicious links.

Cross border coordination has intensified. Under the Frontier Plus initiative, which now spans 13 jurisdictions, joint operations in mid 2025 led to about 1,800 arrests and the recovery of more than S$26 million, according to officials. Many syndicates operate across Southeast Asia and beyond, using call centers and social media to target victims in Singapore. Police say cutting off the supply of local mule accounts and phone lines is crucial because it forces syndicates to rely on costlier and less convenient channels that are easier to trace.

Investigators also focus on following the money trail. Financial intelligence units flag unusual flows, banks are asked to act quickly on suspension requests, and hotlines help victims raise alerts before funds are fully withdrawn. The aim is to slow down the transfer of proceeds long enough to reverse or seize them, while raising the risks for anyone who attempts to profit from these schemes.

Legal context and sentencing practice

Caning is a longstanding part of Singapore’s sentencing framework. It is a judicial punishment imposed after conviction in open court. The number of strokes must comply with the statutory maximum, and the punishment is carried out by trained staff in prison after a medical officer declares the offender fit. The court can substitute additional imprisonment if the offender cannot be caned due to age or health. Defendants retain rights of appeal, and sentencing follows established guidelines that take into account harm, culpability and aggravating or mitigating factors.

The amendments also recalibrate caning across other offences. Some lesser offences that do not involve intentional harm or significant public harm no longer carry caning or have it converted to a discretionary option. Lawmakers say the goal is a framework that aligns punishments with the scale of harm and public interest, while ensuring the justice system keeps pace with new forms of criminal behavior.

Impact on victims and the financial system

Scams can wipe out savings in hours. Victims often describe shock, guilt and shame, and many are reluctant to report what happened. Counselors say the emotional impact can be severe and lasting, especially for seniors who lose retirement funds or parents who lose money set aside for children. Reports of depression are common in the aftermath of major financial losses, and families sometimes take on debt to plug the gap left by stolen funds. Police and social agencies encourage early reporting and emphasize that victims should not be blamed for being deceived by well crafted lies.

The financial system faces its own pressures. Banks and payment providers invest in new detection tools, while call centers handle surges in scam related inquiries. Tougher rules can add friction to daily transactions, but regulators argue that the cost of inaction is higher. The government’s view is that a balanced package of penalties, prevention and rapid response gives the best chance of reducing harm while preserving trust in digital commerce.

What to Know

• Parliament passed a law introducing caning for scam offences, with mandatory caning for scammers and syndicate members and discretionary caning for mules.
• Scammers and recruiters face six to 24 strokes, while money mules can receive up to 12 strokes at the court’s discretion, in addition to jail and fines.
• About 190,000 scam cases since 2020 resulted in losses of roughly S$3.88 billion, and scams now account for around 60 percent of reported crimes.
• In the first half of 2025, losses hit S$456.4 million, and S$187.1 million was lost from July to September 2025.
• Courts will consider whether facilitators intended, knew or failed to take reasonable steps when their accounts, SIM cards or credentials were used in scams.
• Judicial caning applies only to male offenders under 50 who are medically fit, with a maximum of 24 strokes in a single trial.
• The Bill also raises penalties for circulating obscene material, outlaws non consensual and AI generated intimate images, and expands sexual grooming offences.
• Fatal abuse of vulnerable victims now carries up to 30 years or life imprisonment, and doxing of public servants with falsehoods is a criminal offence.
• Singapore is pairing tougher penalties with tech safeguards, faster disruption of criminal funds and cross border operations under the Frontier Plus initiative.
• Authorities say the goal is to deter organizers and enablers, protect victims and curb the supply of local tools that make scams profitable.