Singapore is contemplating significant measures to combat its growing scam epidemic, including the potential introduction of caning for offenders.
In 2023, Singaporeans lost an average of $4,031 each to scams, placing the nation at the top of the global rankings, as reported by the Financial Times. This troubling trend is linked to the country’s affluence, widespread use of digital services, and high levels of compliance with authority.
In response to a parliamentary suggestion, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling stated, “We will consider Dr. Tan’s suggestion for caning to be prescribed for certain scam-related offences, recognizing the serious harm they can cause.”
Loretta Yuen, chair of the fraud committee at the Association of Banks in Singapore, supports the initiative, stating, “We believe in caning as a strong deterrent.” She added, “It’s a deterrent, but there is also a sense of revenge to it.”