Feedback sought on Bill meant to protect potential scam victims

The Government is seeking public feedback on a new Bill that will give powers to the police to order banks to temporarily restrict the transactions of potential scam victims who do not believe they are being scammed.

- Nadine Chua

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the number of scam cases involving victims voluntarily transferring money to scammers remains high despite safeguards such as a kill switch that allows customers to freeze their bank accounts if they suspect their accounts have been compromised.

In the first half of 2024, 86 per cent of reported scams involved such voluntary transfers.

Scammers did not gain direct control of victims' accounts, but instead manipulated them into transferring their monies to the scammers, said MHA.

"In some of these cases, the victims were warned by the police, bank or family that they were being scammed, but still refused to believe that this was happening," the ministry added.

"These included victims of internet love scams and government officials impersonation scams. Currently, the police have no powers to stop them from transferring their monies to the scammers if they insist on doing so." MHA said on Aug 30 that it will be introducing the Protection from Scams Bill in the coming months, and is seeking public opinion about it till the end of September.