EXTRA: Singapore to introduce mandatory caning for scammers

Singapore is planning to introduce caning as punishment for scammers.

During the bill’s second reading on Tuesday, Sim Ann, senior minister of state for home and foreign affairs, said the country lost more than $2.8 billion through scams — from 2020 up to the first half of 2025.

She added that around 190,000 cases of scamming had been reported during the period.

“We will introduce mandatory caning for scammers. Offenders who commit scams, defined as cheating mainly by means of remote communication, will be punished with at least six strokes of the cane,” she said.

“These syndicates mobilise significant resources to conduct and profit from scams, and have the highest level of culpability.”

Under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, scammers and those who recruit for or participate in scam syndicates will be punished with between six and 24 strokes of the cane.

Mules who facilitate scams will also face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes.

This is in addition to penalties already applying to scam offences.

Individuals supplying tools such as SIM cards, Singpass credentials, and payment accounts to fraudsters will face caning under two scenarios: If they either intended for the tools to be used in scams or knew they would be misused, or if the tools were exploited in a scam without their knowledge and they did not take reasonable precautions to avert such misuse.

Currently, there are over 90 offences that can incur discretionary caning in Singapore, while 65 offences mandate caning.

“For avoidance of doubt, more serious cases should still result in caning, even as we make these amendments to change mandatory caning to discretionary caning,” Sim said.

The amendments go beyond just caning. They introduce tougher penalties for the large-scale distribution of sexual images or videos, boost protections for minors and vulnerable victims, and make doxxing of public servants a criminal offence.

Doxxing involves sharing someone’s private information publicly without their consent.