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S'pore will introduce mandatory caning for scammers of at least 6 strokes
Those who facilitate scams will face discretionary caning.
November 04, 2025, 06:47 PM
The Singapore government will introduce caning for scammers and scam mules as a penalty under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, which was passed in parliament on Nov. 4.
The move was previously announced as a proposed amendment on Oct. 14, aiming to create stronger deterrence against scams and scam-related offences.
On Nov. 4, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann highlighted that scams are by far the most prevalent crime type in Singapore today.
Between 2020 and the first half of 2025, there were about 190,000 cases reported, with losses amounting to about S$3.7 billion.
To combat this trend, people convicted of committing scams will be punished with at least six strokes of the cane.
Members of and recruiters for scam syndicates, if they knew that the organised criminal group was a scam syndicate, will also get at least six strokes.
To deny scammers the tools that enable them to conduct and profit from scams, mules who facilitate scams will face discretionary caning.
How discretionary caning will apply
Mules would only be subject to caning if they either knew or had reasonable grounds to believe that the scam enablers they provide — such as SIM cards, Singpass credentials, and payment accounts — would be used to facilitate a crime.
In cases where such enablers were used to commit, facilitate, or launder profits from a scam, discretionary caning will apply if the offender fails to prove that they had taken reasonable steps to prevent it from happening.
"Genuine victims who are found to have been deceived into providing a scam enabler would not be affected by the introduction of caning as a punishment," Sim assured.
How effective will it be?
Workers' Party's Member of Parliament (MP) Sylvia Lim expressed overall support for the bill, but questioned the effectiveness of caning to deter scams.
"How effective the provisions will be will depend on how tightly they can be enforced," she said. "No point having strict laws if offenders are not pursued."
She added that there will likely be no shortage of people volunteering to replace those who are caught, if the rewards of scamming are lucrative enough.
She gave the example of the U.S. sanctioning those involved in scams in Myanmar and Cambodia, and asked what other tools will the Singapore government use outside of criminal law to disrupt organised scam groups.
Additionally, while calling scams "cruel" for causing tremendous material loss and psychological harm to victims, and she has little sympathy for the perpetrators, Lim said that the sentence of caning is a colonial-era legacy, a harsh punishment that inflicts violence and physical pain.
She asked if the ministry considered alternatives like longer jail sentences and heavier fines.
Offer leniency to low-level operatives to help authorities to dismantle scam networks?
Fadli Fawzi, a fellow WP MP, said that fighting scammers is like trying to fight a "hydra".
"The lower-level operatives are the ones on the frontlines and liable to be caught," he said. "Would caning [these individuals] cause a dent on their criminal operations? Furthermore, would introducing the prospect of being caned substantially change the calculus for the ring leaders?"
He asserted that strengthening cross-border law enforcement cooperation and extradition arrangements may make more of a difference compared to introducing caning, but acknowledged that this is already being done by the government.
Fadli said that Singapore can better deter the ringleaders of scam operations by increasing the likelihood of them being caught, rather than increasing the severity of punishment.
Another possible strategy is to offer leniency to lower-level operatives who assist the authorities in dismantling these crime networks, he added.
Other deterrence efforts
Responding to questions on the adequacy of the penalty, Sim emphasised that the government will adopt a range of anti-scam measures, not just caning as a punishment, including outreach programmes to prevent youths from getting involved.
Regarding scam mules, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has recognised the need to be calibrated in its approach, as scam mules have a range of culpability.
“We have proposed for caning to be discretionary to allow the courts to decide if the facts of the case warrant the application of caning," Sim said.
Mitigating factors the court may consider include an offender's degree of cooperation with the authorities and degree of remorse.
"MHA will monitor the situation and adjust the penalties further if necessary," Sim added.
Discretionary caning
While introducing caning for scams, MHA also proposed recalibrating its use in other offences, to ensure that caning is only applied where there is a need.
There are currently 96 offences that attract discretionary caning, and 65 which attract mandatory caning, according to Sim.
"As our societal context and crime situation have evolved, caning may no longer be necessary in some offences," she said.
"These are generally offences that do not involve intentional harm to a person nor cause significant harm to the public, and for which we assess that the other penalties are adequate."
Based on a review, MHA will amend eight provisions to remove mandatory caning for certain offences, including vandalism.
Mandatory caning will be replaced with discretionary caning for vandalism of public property and designated private property, which includes those of national, cultural or religious significance.
MHA will leave it to the court to decide whether caning should be imposed for such vandalism offences, on a case by case basis.
"The amendments do not signal any softening in our stance against crime," Sim emphasised.
Most of the offences that attract caning today, including serious sexual and violence offences, will continue to attract caning as a punishment.
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