Singapore plans law to restrict banking transactions of scam targets

Singapore plans law to restrict banking transactions of scam targets

Singapore's home ministry said on Friday that it will introduce a law in coming months to grant police the power to temporarily restrict the banking transactions of targets of scams who refuse to believe they are being duped.

The proposed law comes as the number of scam cases involving the voluntary transfer of money by the victim to the scammer remains high, despite measures and efforts to educate the public on how to avoid being tricked, the ministry said.

In the first half of 2024, 86% of reported scams were the result of self-effected transfers, it added in a statement.

"The proposed bill seeks to better protect targets of ongoing scams by empowering the police to issue restriction orders to banks to restrict the banking transactions of an individual, if there is reason to believe that he will make money transfers to the scammer," the ministry said.

The restriction orders will cover banking facilities including money transfers out of a victim's bank accounts and into other accounts, and all credit facilities.

The orders will only be issued on scams that are conducted solely via digital or telecommunication channels such as calls, SMSes, or online communications, and not cheating cases involving in-person interactions, according to the statement.

The order will be issued for a period of 28 days initially, which will give the police time to take further measures, it added. The orders can be challenged by individuals through an appeal to the home affairs minister, the ministry said, adding it welcomes public feedback on the new bill until Sept. 30.