Mandatory Caning for Scammers and Syndicate Members to Start Dec 30
Singapore will introduce mandatory caning for scammers and members of scam syndicates from December 30, as part of sweeping amendments to the country’s criminal laws aimed at strengthening deterrence against scam-related crimes.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Friday, December 19, that under the new measures, offenders convicted of scam-related offences will face mandatory caning of at least six strokes, with a maximum of up to 24 strokes. The changes come amid growing concern over the scale and impact of scams in Singapore.
“Fighting scams is a top national priority. The number of scam cases and scam losses remain concerning,” MHA said in its statement.
The tougher penalties are introduced under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2025, which was passed by Parliament last month. According to MHA, the amendments are intended to ensure that Singapore’s criminal laws remain effective, fair, and responsive to evolving crime trends.
In addition to principal offenders, individuals who enable scams will also face harsher consequences. Scam mules who assist scammers by laundering illegal proceeds, supplying SIM cards, or surrendering Singpass credentials may be subject to discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes. This applies where the offender knew or intended that their actions would be used to commit or facilitate a scam.
Discretionary caning may also be imposed if the enabler was involved in a scam, knew or had reason to believe their actions would be used for criminal purposes, and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent such misuse.
MHA also clarified that offenders convicted under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating cases that do not involve scams may face discretionary caning of up to 24 strokes. This provision recognises that certain serious cheating offences warrant stronger sentencing options, even when they fall outside the typical definition of scams.
During the second reading of the Bill on November 4, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Sim Ann described scams as “the most prevalent crime type” in Singapore today. Official figures show that around 190,000 scam cases were reported between 2020 and the first half of 2025, with total losses estimated at S$3.7 billion.
Ms Sim noted that scams now account for approximately 60 percent of all reported crimes in Singapore, comparing the financial losses to more than three-and-a-half times the cost of building the Woodlands Health Campus. She added that the government would continue monitoring the situation and would not hesitate to further increase penalties if necessary.
The amendments also include changes affecting youth offenders. From December 30, cases involving offenders aged 16 to under 18 will be heard in youth courts, following amendments made to the Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) in 2019. These changes will be operationalised by the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
MHA said additional amendments to the CYPA and the Criminal Procedure Code will allow certain cases involving older youth offenders to be transferred to the State Courts or High Court. This applies to repeat offenders or those involved in serious crimes such as serious sexual offences, unlicensed moneylending, and drug trafficking.
According to MHA, the revised framework aims to balance rehabilitation opportunities for young offenders with the need for sufficiently deterrent penalties, including imprisonment and caning where appropriate, to protect public safety and maintain confidence in the justice system.
