A stark new deterrent is coming to Singapore in the fight against a surging wave of fraud. Starting December 30th, convicted scammers will face the prospect of mandatory caning, a punishment historically reserved for more violent crimes.
The government’s decision, solidified by parliamentary approval last month, dramatically increases the penalties for fraudulent activity. Beyond existing prison sentences and fines, scammers – including those who recruit others into their schemes – could receive between six and twenty-four strokes of the cane.
The severity isn’t limited to the masterminds. Individuals who willingly surrender their bank accounts or personal information to aid in money laundering related to scams now risk up to twelve strokes at the discretion of the courts. This expansion aims to dismantle the infrastructure supporting these criminal enterprises.
The move underscores the gravity of the situation. Scams now represent a staggering 60% of all reported crime in Singapore, a figure that has prompted officials to declare the issue a “top national priority.”
Between 2020 and the first half of 2025, nearly 190,000 scam cases have resulted in losses totaling almost 3.7 billion Singapore dollars – equivalent to $2.8 billion USD. The financial toll on individuals and the nation is immense.
The most prevalent scams plaguing the city-state include phishing attempts, fraudulent job offers, deceptive online shopping schemes, and enticing, yet ultimately false, investment opportunities. Impersonation scams, where criminals pose as trusted figures, are also rampant.
Judicial caning, a deeply rooted practice in Singaporean law, involves the application of a rattan cane to the bare buttocks. It’s currently used for male offenders under 50 convicted of serious offenses like robbery and sexual assault, always in conjunction with imprisonment.
This form of corporal punishment dates back to British colonial times and remains a legal practice in neighboring Malaysia and Brunei. Its reintroduction as a penalty for financial crimes signals a resolute stance against the growing threat of scams.
