In Singapore, Charlotte Goh was targeted by scammers posing as officers from the Cyber Security Agency, claiming her number was linked to a scam targeting Malaysians. Goh, a sales professional who often shares her contact information publicly, fell for the ruse initially, sharing personal details before realizing it was a scam. She managed to protect her funds by transferring them before any money was stolen. However, many others in Singapore have not been as fortunate, with reports of scams and losses reaching record highs. To combat this, the government passed legislation granting authorities new powers to freeze the bank accounts of suspected scam victims. Despite anti-scam initiatives and education efforts, convincing victims they are being scammed remains a challenge. Critics of the new law argue that it is an extension of the government’s tendency to intervene in private matters, while supporters see it as a critical tool to fight rampant scams. The government’s proactive approach reflects the steep economic and social costs of fraud in the city-state, with efforts focused on preventing scams before they occur. While the law may seem intrusive to some, Singaporeans generally expect the government to oversee the public welfare due to their high trust in the government. Proponents of the law emphasize that it is tightly defined in scope and only issued as a last resort. However, some analysts caution that such measures may not be easily adopted in the global context, as countries must consider the political cost and public buy-in for legislative regimes to combat scams effectively.
