December 31, 2025 - Singapore has introduced one of the harshest punishments in the region against fraud, with scammers now facing mandatory caning of up to 24 strokes for serious cases. The new law, which took effect Tuesday, was passed by Parliament in November as part of amendments to the penal code aimed at deterring the surge in scam-related crimes.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) emphasized that “fighting scams is a top national priority, citing the alarming rise in fraud cases and financial losses. Between 2020 and the first half of 2025, Singapore recorded more than 190,000 scam cases, with victims losing over $2.8 billion, according to Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Sim Ann. The Straits Times reported that total losses since 2020 have reached nearly $3.9 billion, underscoring the scale of the problem.

Under the new provisions, scammers, recruiters, and members of syndicates will face between six and 24 strokes of the cane, in addition to imprisonment and fines. Scam “mules” who knowingly provide bank accounts, SIM cards, or Singpass credentials to facilitate fraud may also face discretionary caning of up to 12 strokes. Authorities said the enhanced penalties are designed to strengthen deterrence and ensure criminal laws remain “effective, fair, and responsive to emerging challenges.

The move comes amid record-high scam losses in Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, where online fraud has become increasingly sophisticated. Lawmakers argued that harsher punishments were necessary to protect citizens and maintain public trust in financial systems. “The number of scam cases and scam losses remains concerning,” the MHA said in its official statement.

Singapore’s decision has drawn international attention, as corporal punishment remains rare in modern legal systems. However, officials defended the measure as proportionate to the severity of the crime and essential to safeguarding the public. The law is expected to serve as a warning to syndicates operating across borders, many of which target Singaporeans through digital platforms.

Singapore Hits Scammers Hard. The Philippines Barely Hits Back.

Singapore’s decision to impose caning on scammers forces an uncomfortable question. Should the Philippines do the same, or at least consider harsher, more visible punishment for crimes that ruin lives?

Scams are not harmless digital tricks. They wipe out savings, destroy trust, and push families into poverty. In the Philippines, victims rarely see justice. Cases drag on. Arrests are few. Syndicates regroup faster than courts can respond. The result is a perception that scamming is high reward with low risk.

Public shaming and corporal punishment are controversial, and for good reason. They raise serious human rights concerns. But Singapore’s logic is simple. Deterrence works when punishment is swift, certain, and feared. In contrast, the Philippine system relies heavily on slow prosecution and mild consequences, which criminals have learned to ignore.

The issue may not be caning itself. It is seriousness. In the Philippines, scammers are treated as ordinary offenders, not as economic predators. Enforcement feels timid. Penalties feel abstract. Victims feel forgotten.

Adopting corporal punishment is unlikely and probably unacceptable here. But doing nothing is worse. The country needs tougher sentencing, faster trials, asset seizure, and public accountability that sends a clear message. Justice must feel real, not symbolic.

Fear should not be the foundation of law. But accountability must be strong enough to stop crime. Right now, scammers are not afraid. That alone should worry us.