Singapore Passes Law Letting Police Freeze Bank Accounts to Stop Scams

Singapore scam law has introduced a bold new measure to combat the rising tide of online fraud. Starting Tuesday, police in the city-state can temporarily seize control of a person’s bank account if they suspect the individual is falling victim to a scam, under the newly enacted Protection from Scams Act.

Contents

What the New Singapore scam law Allows Rising Scam Epidemic Concerns Over Privacy and Overreach Complementary Anti-Scam Measures Conclusion External References

The law gives officers the power to block fund transfers, ATM usage, and credit services—even if the person being scammed does not believe they’re at risk. This controversial but decisive move follows a record S$1.1 billion ($860 million) lost to scams in 2024 alone.

Singapore empowers police to freeze bank accounts in scam crackdown | Reuters

What the New Singapore scam law Allows

Under the Protection from Scams Act, passed earlier in 2025, law enforcement can now instruct banks to impose restrictions for up to 30 days at a time, with the option for up to five extensions if further investigation is required.

According to Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the order to freeze accounts will only be issued as a last resort, once all attempts to convince the victim have failed. Victims will still be allowed to use their funds for daily essentials, subject to police approval.

Rising Scam Epidemic

Scams have surged dramatically in Singapore, with cases skyrocketing from 15,600 in 2020 to over 50,000 by 2024. The most common scams include:

Job and investment frauds
E-commerce scams involving undelivered products
Internet love scams, where emotional manipulation leads to financial loss

New Singapore law allows police to freeze bank access to stop scams

Proponents argue that the new law is a necessary response to these growing threats and will help authorities intervene before victims lose their life savings.

Concerns Over Privacy and Overreach

While the government emphasizes the law’s protective intent, critics have raised alarms about potential government overreach and the lack of an opt-out clause. During parliamentary debates, some lawmakers suggested that victims should be allowed to nominate someone to manage their account instead of granting police full access.

Still, the law has been passed and is now in effect, making Singapore one of the few countries globally where police have legal power to freeze private accounts without court orders.

Explore more on cybersecurity policies in Asia.

Complementary Anti-Scam Measures

This law joins a series of anti-scam initiatives rolled out in recent years. In 2023, Singapore launched a feature allowing bank customers to lock part of their funds to prevent unauthorized transfers. Most banks now also offer an emergency “kill switch” to freeze accounts instantly if fraud is suspected.

Singapore passes law that gives police powers to freeze bank accounts of scam victims - CNA

The Singapore Police Force has said these tools, combined with the new law, will strengthen the country’s response to increasingly sophisticated cyber fraud operations.

Conclusion

Singapore’s tough new stance on financial scams may seem intrusive to some, but with billions at stake, the government is prioritizing prevention over reactivity. As scams become more deceptive and personal, the question remains: Is protection worth sacrificing some autonomy? For many victims, the answer is a resounding yes.