From Colonial Past to Cyber Age: Singapore Revives Caning to Fight $4B Scam Crisis

Singapore has taken a page from its colonial past to confront a modern scourge. Facing nearly $4 billion in scam-related losses, the government has ruled that fraudsters and digital mules will face caning, a punishment once reserved for violent criminals, as part of a sweeping crackdown on the nation’s fastest-growing crime.

Under the newly passed Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, scammers, syndicate recruiters, and money mules will face between six and twenty-four strokes of the cane, alongside existing jail terms and fines. The move comes after more than 190,000 reported scam cases since 2020, which officials say have devastated ordinary citizens and shaken public trust in the financial system.

Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann called scams “the most prevalent crime in Singapore today,” warning that financial deception has reached epidemic levels. In the first half of 2025 alone, victims lost nearly 385 million dollars. “If drugs destroy lives, scams destroy life savings,” said one member of Parliament, echoing rising frustration among lawmakers and the public.

The law also targets so-called “mules” whihc are individuals who sell or lend their bank accounts, SIM cards, or Singpass credentials to syndicates. Courts can now impose up to twelve strokes for such offenders, even if they claim ignorance of the crime. However, genuine victims tricked into participation will not be penalised.

The move marks the first time Singapore has applied corporal punishment to cybercrime, signaling its determination to protect its reputation as a secure global financial hub. It also comes amid growing regional concern about cross-border scam syndicates operating from Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Several Singaporeans have been implicated in these overseas networks, prompting calls for tougher domestic deterrence.

Caning, a relic of the British colonial era, is already mandatory for over sixty offences including robbery and vandalism. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International have condemned its continued use, calling it a form of torture. The Singapore government insists it remains an effective deterrent. A rattan cane is used to deliver the strokes after a medical examination, and women, girls, and men over fifty remain exempt.

Supporters argue the punishment reflects the public’s anger toward criminals who exploit trust in one of the world’s most connected economies. For critics, the move revives a controversial method to address a digital-age problem. But few dispute the urgency. With billions lost and scam syndicates evolving faster than enforcement can keep pace, Singapore’s message is blunt and unmistakable: crime online will now hurt offline.