Singapore Considers Caning as Scams Jump 70%

Singapore weighs caning for scammers as financial losses surge

Singapore is considering introducing caning as a punishment for scammers, following a surge in fraud-related financial losses that placed the country at the top of global rankings for scam victimhood. According to Finextra, in 2023, Singaporeans lost an average of $4,031 each to scams. This highlights the nation’s vulnerability despite—or because of—its digital sophistication, affluence, and general compliance with authority. The scale of the pr…

Scam victims in Singapore lost a total of ~$858M last year, up 70% YoY; most are contacted via Meta-owned apps, and deepfakes in scams are increasingly common

Owen Walker / Financial Times: Scam victims in Singapore lost a total of ~$858M last year, up 70% YoY; most are contacted via Meta-owned apps, and deepfakes in scams are increasingly common  —  City-state residents who spend a lot of time online and are naturally compliant with authority are especially vulnerable

Singapore Considers Caning as Scams Jump 70%

How bad has Singapore’s scamming problem gotten? Authorities are considering corporal punishment for offenders.