Data on police reports on financial exploitation of minors through social media platforms over the past five years, and trends in online financial exploitation

Question:

Mr Victor Lye: To ask the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) for each of the past five years, how many police reports involved the financial exploitation of minors originating through social media, livestreaming, or messaging platforms; and (b) whether the Ministry has observed an increase in online channels being used to induce minors to transfer money, purchase gifts, or make payments.

Answer:

Mr K Shanmugam, Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs:

1. Not every type of financial exploitation is an offence. Thus, statistics are not collected on financial exploitation per se. That said, one form of such exploitation is scams; the number of scam victims below 18 years of age declined in 2025 compared to 2024, in line with the overall decline in the number of scam cases.