Scammers to face caning under proposed criminal law amendments

The Ministry of Home Affairs recorded almost 20,000 scam cases in the first half of 2025.

Scammers will be punished by caning as the parliament moves to amend the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, amidst increasing number of scams.

“In this Bill, we are proposing to introduce mandatory caning for scammers, as well as members of and recruiters for scam syndicates,” said Sim Ann, senior minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and MHA, during the second reading of the law.

“We will also introduce discretionary caning for those who facilitate scams through providing enablers such as their Singpass credentials, SIM cards or bank accounts,” Sim added.

This followed reports by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that almost 20,000 scam cases were recorded in the first half of 2025 alone.

Clause 64 of the Bill amends section 420 of the Penal Code, imposing at least six strokes of the cane against offenders found committing scams by means of remote communication, an MHA announcement said.

Discretionary caning in section 420 of the Penal Code is also introduced for serious cases of cheating.

The MHA estimated nearly half a billion dollars lost from the 20,000 scam cases.

Meanwhile, fine and mandatory imprisonment of up to five years, or seven years if the violation involved circulation of obscene materials depicting a minor.

Amendments were further suggested to protect minors and vulnerable victims from abuse, with offenders to face 30 years to life imprisonment.

Public servants and public service workers can be protected from doxxing.

Amendments in this Bill suggest that reformative training, imprisonment, and caning can continue to be imposed on older youth offenders who are repeat offenders or who commit serious crimes.

In the final set of amendments in the bill, workers and dealers of precious metals could increase the waiting period before such workers or dealers can work on or deal with goods sold to them, extended from three days to five.

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