The Fast Rise of Scams: Why are Singaporeans so Prone to Cybercrimes?

Singapore, the modern and prosperous city-state, has also become a hotbed for scams and cybercrimes in recent years. According to the latest statistics from the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the number of scam and cybercrime cases increased by 25.2% to 33,669 in 2022, compared to 26,886 cases in 2021. 

The total amount reported to have been cheated from all scams increased by 4.5% to $660.7 million in 2022, from $632.0 million in 2021. These figures indicate that scams and cybercrimes are a serious and growing threat to the security and well-being of Singaporeans.

What are the types and trends of scams and cybercrimes in Singapore?

The SPF has identified the top five scam types of 2022 as phishing scams, job scams, e-commerce scams, investment scams, and fake friend call scams. These five scam types made up 82.5% of the top ten scam types reported in 2022. Among these, phishing scams recorded the highest number of reported cases, with 7,097 cases in 2022, an increase of 41.3% from 5,023 cases in 2021. Phishing scams involve scammers impersonating officials or trusted entities, such as banks, government agencies, or online platforms, to trick victims into revealing their personal or financial information, such as credit card or bank account details.

The SPF has also observed some emerging trends and patterns in the scams and cybercrimes in Singapore, such as:

• Young adults are the most vulnerable group: Young adults, aged 20 to 39, made up more than 50% of the total number of scam victims in 2022. Experts have pointed out that digital natives depend on Internet platforms and mobile apps to shop, bank and communicate, and that being online increases exposure to the risk of scams and cyber fraud.
• Scammers exploit the COVID-19 pandemic: Scammers have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to prey on the fears and anxieties of the public, by offering fake or inflated products and services related to the pandemic, such as masks, sanitizers, vaccines, or tests. Scammers have also used the pandemic as a pretext to solicit donations or personal information from unsuspecting victims.
• Scammers use complex and sophisticated methods: Scammers have become more adept at using complex and sophisticated methods to deceive and manipulate their victims, such as using spoofed phone numbers, fake websites, social engineering techniques, and encryption tools. Scammers have also collaborated with other criminal syndicates, both locally and overseas, to carry out their scams and cybercrimes.

Why are Singaporeans so prone to scams and cybercrimes?

There are several factors that make Singaporeans susceptible to scams and cybercrimes, such as:

• High Internet penetration and usage: Singapore has one of the highest Internet penetration and usage rates in the world, with 93% of the population having access to the Internet, and 88% of the population using smartphones⁴. This means that Singaporeans are more exposed to the online environment, where scammers and cybercriminals operate and target their victims.
• High trust and compliance culture: Singaporeans are generally known to be trusting and compliant, especially towards authority figures and official institutions, such as the government, the police, or the banks⁵. This makes them more likely to fall for scams and cybercrimes that involve impersonation or deception, as they may not question the authenticity or legitimacy of the requests or instructions they receive.
• Low awareness and vigilance: Singaporeans may have a low level of awareness and vigilance about the prevalence and severity of scams and cybercrimes, as they may assume that they are safe and protected in their own country, or that they are not the target of such crimes⁵. They may also have a low level of knowledge and skills on how to detect and prevent scams and cybercrimes, such as how to verify the identity and credibility of the callers or senders, how to secure their personal and financial information, and how to report and seek help if they encounter such crimes.

How can Singaporeans protect themselves from scams?

The SPF has advised Singaporeans to adopt the following measures to protect themselves from scams and cybercrimes:

• Be alert and suspicious: Singaporeans should be alert and suspicious of any unsolicited calls, messages, or emails that ask for their personal or financial information, or that offer them attractive or urgent deals or opportunities. They should also be wary of any callers or senders that claim to be from official or trusted entities, and that pressure them to act quickly or threaten them with consequences.
• Verify and check: Singaporeans should verify and check the identity and authenticity of the callers or senders, by calling the official hotline or visiting the official website of the entity they claim to represent. They should also check the source and validity of the information or offers they receive, by doing their own research or consulting reliable sources.
• Ignore and report: Singaporeans should ignore and report any suspicious or fraudulent calls, messages, or emails, by hanging up the phone, deleting the message or email, or blocking the caller or sender. They should also report any scam or cybercrime incidents to the SPF, by calling the anti-scam helpline at 1800-722-6688, or visiting the anti-scam website at www.scamalert.sg.

Scams and cybercrimes are a serious and growing problem in Singapore, as scammers and cybercriminals exploit the online habits, trust, and ignorance of Singaporeans. Singaporeans should be aware and vigilant of the types and trends of scams and cybercrimes, and adopt the necessary measures to protect themselves and their loved ones from such crimes. Singaporeans should also cooperate and collaborate with the authorities and the community, to combat and prevent scams and cybercrimes, and to create a safer and more secure online environment for all.