In preparation for Singapore’s ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, the country has introduced two new anti-scam initiatives under the ASEAN umbrella which will bolster the region’s efforts to counter the growing sophistication of online scam syndicates. As Singapore is the voluntary lead shepherd for cybercrime and online scams in ASEAN, the proposals were announced by Senior Minister K. Shanmugam on October 6, 2026.
Singapore’s ASEAN Anti-Scam Initiatives
1. ASEAN Code of Practice to Combat Scams
Proposed ASEAN Code of Practice to Combat Scams on Online Platforms would set out a set of voluntary minimum standards to adapt to online platforms.
Measures could include:
- Faster escalation of suspected scam activity to authorities
- Reasonable verification to prevent fake accounts
- Stronger detection and disruption of scam activity
The goal is to make digital platforms safer across ASEAN countries.
2. ASEAN Best Practices Guide
Singapore also presented an ASEAN Best Practices Guide comprising of scam investigations, legislation and public education.
The guide aims at increasing the cooperation between law-enforcement in investigations that traverse national boundaries.
Why ASEAN Needs Stronger Scam Cooperation
The national enforcement is limited because of the online scams that are now borderless. The new ideas will be overlaid on top of existing cooperation under FRONTIER+ in Singapore.
In the latest sweep, over 7,500 people were investigated, some 3,000 were arrested and some 101,000 bank accounts were frozen, with money of about S$207 million seized.
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FAQs
What are Singapore’s two ASEAN anti-scam initiatives?
They are the ASEAN Code of Practice to Combat Scams on Online Platforms and the ASEAN Best Practices Guide.
When will Singapore chair ASEAN?
Singapore will hold the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027.
Why are ASEAN scam syndicates difficult to stop?
Criminal networks operate across borders, requiring intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement.
