Law passed for scammers, money mules to be caned

Scammers will get at least six strokes of the cane, with the punishment going up to 24 strokes depending on the severity of the offence.

- David Sun Crime Correspondent

Those to be caned will include syndicate members and recruiters, and those who help them, such as money mules who provide their bank accounts, SIM cards or Singpass credentials.

These mules will face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes.

The enhanced punishments for scams come as the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill was passed in Parliament on Nov 4.

During its second reading, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann said scams are by far the most prevalent crime type in Singapore, making up 60 per cent of all reported crimes.

She said that between 2020 and the first half of 2025, there were about 190,000 cases reported, with losses amounting to about $3.7 billion. “These are staggering numbers... The losses are more than 314 times the cost of building Woodlands Health Campus,” she said.

According to figures provided to The Straits Times by the police, at least $1871 million was lost to scams from July to September.

This brings the total lost to scams from 2020 till September 2025 to at least $3.88 billion.

Caning scammers was first raised in March by then Jurong GRC MP Tan Wu Meng in a debate on the Ministry of Home Affairs’ budget. Dr Tan, who was then overseeing the Clementi ward, said a resident lost her life savings to scams and asked if Singapore was too soft on scammers.

On Nov 4, Ms Sim said the ministry reviewed his suggestion and agreed with it.

The new laws also allow for discretionary caning for other forms of cheating, like traditional fraud.

Other changes include those relating to sexual offences, doxing of public servants, and punishment for youth offenders.

CANING REMOVED FOR SOME OFFENCES

Ms Sim said that even as caning is introduced for scams, a review found a need to recalibrate caning for other offences.

There are 96 offences that attract discretionary caning and 65 with mandatory caning.