Number of Reported Cases of Potential Singaporean Victims Tricked by Scam Syndicates to Work Overseas Since 2022

Question:

Mr Fadli Fawzi: To ask the Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs since 2022 (a) how many cases involving potential Singaporean victims being baited by scam syndicates to work overseas have been reported to the Police; (b) whether there have been any cases of Singaporeans requesting assistance from the Government to escape overseas scam syndicates; and (c) if so, how many.

Answer:

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

1. Since 2022, the Government has offered consular assistance to nine Singaporeans upon receiving information that they might have been exploited in overseas scam centres. Only three of them accepted the Government’s offer, including facilitating their return to Singapore and issuing the necessary travel documents to do so.

2. In all of these cases, there was insufficient evidence to conclude the Singaporeans had been held captive and exploited by overseas scam syndicates.