The Singapore Police Force has reported a 21.5% decrease in scam and cybercrime cases in the first half of 2025, with numbers dropping to 22,476 from 28,625 in the same period last year. Despite this decline, scams still accounted for a significant 87.5% of these cases, totalling 19,665 incidents.
The financial impact of scams also saw a reduction, with losses decreasing by 12.6% to approximately $456.4m , down from $522.4m in the first half of 2024. The Anti-Scam Command (ASCom) played a crucial role, recovering over $56.7m, including $39.7m in non-cryptocurrency and $17 million in cryptocurrency. Additionally, proactive measures helped avert potential losses of at least $179m.
However, the median loss per scam case rose by 36.4% to $1,500, and cases with losses exceeding $100,000 increased to 5.1% of total scam cases. The prevalence of scams involving self-effected transfers remains high, though public education efforts have contributed to a decrease in such incidents.
Phishing scams topped the list with 3,779 cases, whilst investment scams led in financial losses, amounting to $145.4m. Government officials impersonation scams saw a dramatic rise, with cases nearly tripling to 1,762, resulting in losses of $126.5m.
Social media and messaging platforms, particularly those from Meta, were frequently used by scammers, accounting for 37.3% of cases. The report highlights the need for continued vigilance and public awareness to combat these evolving threats.
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