SINGAPORE (Bernama): Singapore has proposed legislative amendments to tighten its anti-scam laws and expand its powers to detect, disrupt, and deter scams.
The Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Bill, tabled for its first reading in Parliament on Tuesday by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming, seeks to amend the Protection from Scams Act, the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA), and other legislation.
The Home Affairs Ministry said a key amendment is to enable and safeguard the exchange of scam-related information between the police and service providers.
Another amendment is to give teeth to how the facility restriction framework is applied, and restrict access to services by individuals who have been identified as possibly facilitating scams.
The bill would also introduce new offences to deter the misuse of online accounts, enhance OCHA, and improve the effectiveness of police operations.
The ministry said the amendments would allow financial penalties of up to S$10 million (S$1 = RM3.19) to be imposed on designated online service providers that fail to comply with the OCHA.
"Scams are evolving rapidly, and Singapore’s laws must keep pace. The Scams (Countermeasures) and Other Matters Bill will strengthen Singapore’s ability to detect scam activity earlier, disrupt scam operations more quickly, and hold accountable those who enable or facilitate scams.
"Together with industry and community partners, the government will continue to take firm, coordinated, and proportionate action to protect the public and preserve trust in Singapore’s digital environment,” the ministry said.
-- BERNAMA
