
Digital crimes are on the rise in Singapore
The prevalence of such crimes has led the Singapore Police Force to highlight scams as the crime of concern, especially given the size of the losses incurred by such swindles. 2021 saw the highest rate of crimes committed in Singapore in a decade, due to the increase in crimes involving fraud and scams. In 2022, phishing scams were the most reported type of scams, surpassing job and e-commerce scams. Typically, phishing scams involve digital communication or calls from scammers who would trick victims into revealing personal financial details such as their credit card information or bank account details. These scammers would then use that information to make unauthorized transactions from their victims' financial accounts.The increased use of digital technology, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a marked rise in cybercrime in Singapore. It is now easier than ever for unscrupulous characters to hide behind the relative anonymity of online communication for criminal gains. A majority of Singapore’s leading scams take place online, whether through messaging apps, e-commerce platforms, or social media. The increased sophistication of online crimes, sometimes involving fake mobile applications, websites, or e-mail communication that are difficult to spot, highlights the need for greater digital literacy and awareness among both the lay population and law enforcement in Singapore.