Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs is initiating consultations on new legislation intended to grant police the authority to direct banks to limit the banking activities of individuals who refuse to acknowledge that they are being scammed.
The forthcoming Protection from Scams Bill aims to equip law enforcement with enhanced power to prevent individuals from sending money to scammers, even after warnings from authorities, family, and friends. This issue predominantly arises in situations involving internet romance scams or impersonation schemes.
According to the Ministry, a staggering 86% of scams reported in the first half of 2024 involved victims voluntarily transferring funds to their scammers.
Restriction Orders (ROs) will specifically target scams executed solely through digital or telecommunication channels, excluding cases that involve face-to-face interactions where it can be difficult to determine if a criminal offense has occurred.
The Ministry of Home Affairs stated, “ROs will only be issued if the police have reason to believe that the individual is being targeted by a scammer and may make transfers to the scammer in the near future, and after other options to persuade the victim have been exhausted and failed.”