280 under probe over scams linked to $4.4m losses

If found guilty of cheating, they can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined. Those convicted of money laundering can be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both.

Those guilty of unlicensed payment services can be fined up to $125,000, jailed for up to three years, or both.

Scammers, as well as members or recruiters of scam syndicates, face between six and 24 strokes of the cane if convicted. Those who help scammers by laundering scam proceeds, providing SIM cards or providing Singpass credentials could face up to 12 strokes of the cane.

The police said anyone found to be linked to such crimes will be held accountable. Those involved in mule-related offences may also face restrictions on banking services and mobile line subscriptions, the police said.

Scam victims in Singapore lost a total of $410.6 million in the first half of 2026, with the police recovering more than $97 million – including $8 million in cryptocurrency.

Government official impersonation scams recorded the second-highest losses among all scam types in the first half of 2026, with $90.8 million lost.

The amount was surpassed only by that lost to investment scams, which drained victims of $169.8 million over the same period.

For more information on scams, visit www.scamshield.gov.sg or call the ScamShield Helpline on 1799. Anyone with information on scams can call the police on 1800-255-0000 or submit information at www.police.gov.sg/i-witness.

All information will be kept strictly confidential, the police said.