Singapore has enacted stringent new anti-fraud legislation that mandates corporal punishment for scam-related offenses, with convicted individuals facing between six to twenty-four strokes of the cane. The revised criminal laws, which take effect December 30, 2025, represent one of the world’s most severe punitive approaches to combating financial fraud.
Under the comprehensive legal amendments, multiple categories of scam participants will now be subject to judicial caning. Primary offenders including scam recruiters and syndicate members face the maximum penalty of 24 strokes. Those convicted of laundering scam proceeds or supplying national identification documents and mobile SIM cards to criminal organizations could receive up to 12 strokes. The legislation further establishes liability for individuals who fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent their credentials from being misused for fraudulent purposes.
The Singaporean Ministry of Home Affairs characterized these enhanced penalties as necessary to ensure the nation’s criminal laws remain effective and responsive to evolving challenges. Official statements emphasize that combating scams constitutes a top national priority, citing persistently concerning statistics regarding both scam frequency and financial losses.
According to police data referenced in the legislation’s background materials, scam-related financial losses reached $350.9 million during the first half of 2025. While this figure represents a 12.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, it demonstrates the substantial economic impact driving the policy response. The most prevalent scam categories include phishing schemes, fraudulent job offers, e-commerce deception, investment fraud, and impersonation scams.
Judicial caning in Singapore involves administration of rattan cane strikes to the bare buttocks and is reserved for male offenders under age 50. This form of corporal punishment, introduced during British colonial rule, remains in legal use for serious crimes including robbery and sexual offenses in several Southeast Asian nations. The policy initiative was initially proposed during March 2025 parliamentary debates concerning the Home Affairs ministry’s budget.
The legislative changes follow September 2025 enforcement actions against technology giant Meta, where Singaporean authorities threatened substantial financial penalties unless the company implemented enhanced security measures including facial recognition technology to combat impersonation scams on its Facebook platform.