Singaporean authorities ban access to facilities for scam mules

Singapore is introducing new measures to prevent scam mules from accessing services that could facilitate fraud, including financial, telecommunications, and government digital services.

On Thursday, the Singapore Police Force, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Infocomm Media Development Authority, and GovTech announced that, under new restrictions effective from October 2025, individuals identified as scam mules could face limitations such as being unable to sign up for new mobile phone subscriptions or open bank accounts.

The restrictions will also extend to banking services, including internet and mobile banking, card transactions, ATM services, and other facilities that could be used to transfer money obtained through fraud.

Authorities stated that these regulations may be imposed on individuals who have been warned, fined, prosecuted, or convicted of fraud-related crimes, as well as those under investigation for such offences. The restrictions will take into account individual financial and communication needs.

The move comes as scams remain a significant concern in Singapore, with more than 19,665 reported scam cases in the first half of 2025, resulting in losses totalling $456.4 million.

In a statement, Singaporean authorities explained that fraudsters make extensive use of local facilities to carry out scams. Scammers often use nominee bank accounts to electronically transfer illicit funds between different banks and out of the country, making it difficult for authorities to trace the money.

Fraudsters are also increasingly exploiting the anonymity of cryptocurrency transactions to move money obtained through scams.

Data from the authorities also shows that nearly 15 per cent of telephone line subscribers in 2025 who allowed their lines to be used for scams are repeat offenders, with over 11,000 lines subscribed.

These new measures are part of Singapore’s broader efforts to combat the rising tide of digital fraud, which has become a growing threat to both individuals and the financial system. The authorities have emphasised the importance of robust controls and cross-agency collaboration to disrupt scam operations and protect the public.