Police can freeze accounts under anti-scam law taking effect on 1 July 2025 in Singapore

SINGAPORE: The Protection from Scams Act 2025, passed by Parliament on 7 January 2025, will come into force on 1 July 2025, according to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The legislation grants new powers to police and commercial affairs officers under Section 64 of the Police Force Act. Officers may now issue restriction orders (ROs) to banks to limit the banking and credit activities of individuals suspected of being scam targets. These measures are described as a “last resort” and will be used only when other efforts to dissuade potential scam victims have failed.

Restriction orders will block banking activities to prevent scam-related losses

According to the MHA, restriction orders can be issued when an officer has “reasonable belief” that an individual may transfer funds to a scammer, withdraw cash for that purpose, or use a credit facility to benefit a scammer. Officers will assess each case based on the available facts, including input from individuals and their family members. An RO may also be issued if it is deemed “necessary” to protect an individual from harm. Once an RO is in place, affected individuals will face immediate restrictions. These include blocked transfers via online and mobile banking, PayNow, and over-the-counter services. ATM access and all credit facilities – such as credit card transactions and personal loan access – will also be frozen. systemically important banks: DBS, OCBC, UOB, Citibank, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Malayan Banking and Standard Chartered. However, the MHA clarified that ROs can also be issued to other banks if there is “reasonable suspicion” that funds may be channelled from those institutions to scammers. Affected individuals may apply to access their funds for legitimate purposes, such as daily expenses or bill payments. Such applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the police.

Duration, appeal process, and accountability of restriction orders

ROs will initially be valid for up to 30 days and may be extended by additional 30-day increments, up to a maximum of five times. After 180 days, the order will lapse, even if the individual is still considered at risk of being scammed. Nonetheless, an RO may be cancelled before the end of the 30-day period if the police determine that the individual is no longer vulnerable to scams. An appeal mechanism is in place. Individuals subject to ROs, or joint account holders of affected accounts, may appeal to the Commissioner of Police. The order will remain active while the appeal is pending, and the Commissioner's decision will be final, the MHA said.

Scam losses hit record high as authorities seek stronger protection

The implementation of the Act follows a marked increase in scam cases in Singapore. According to the Singapore Police Force’s annual scam report released on 25 February 2025, total scam losses in 2024 reached S$1.1 billion. This figure represents a 70% jump from the S$651.8 million lost in 2023. Police also recorded a new high of 51,501 scam cases in 2024, up from 46,563 the previous year. While most of the cases (over 70%) involved losses of under S$5,000, the median loss per case stood at approximately S$1,300. The sharp rise in scams and financial losses has prompted the government to enhance preventive powers through legislation. The new law aims to provide timely intervention to prevent irreversible financial harm to potential victims.