Strengthening ASEAN cooperation to combat cross-border scam syndicates

Question:

Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs whether, during Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027, Singapore will be working with its ASEAN neighbours to explore stronger regional measures to dismantle scam syndicates, including coordinated intelligence-sharing, asset freezes, cross-border fund tracing and joint enforcement.

Answer:

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

1. As the ASEAN Voluntary Lead Shepherd for Cybercrime and Online Scams and incoming ASEAN Chair, Singapore has proposed two new initiatives to strengthen ASEAN’s response to scams in the coming year.

2. First, the ASEAN Code of Practice to Combat Scams on Online Platforms will enhance scam prevention across the region. It establishes a set of voluntary baseline anti-scam safeguards that Member States can adapt and apply to online platforms, to detect, prevent and disrupt scam activity. Examples include the timely escalation of detected scam activity to relevant authorities, and the implementation of reasonable verification measures to prevent inauthentic accounts from being created and used for scams. These safeguards are intended to help online platforms better protect their users from scams.

3. Second, the ASEAN Best Practices Guide will share best practices when conducting scam investigations, developing and implementing legislative measures, and strengthening public education and awareness against scams.

4. These initiatives are in addition to the existing multilateral efforts, such as FRONTIER+ mooted by the Singapore Police Force, to strengthen intelligence sharing, joint enforcement, and cross-border fund tracing and asset freezing, which Singapore will continue to support. Earlier this year, 10 member jurisdictions of FRONTIER+ conducted Operation FRONTIER+ III, resulting in more than 7,500 subjects investigated, 3,000 subjects arrested, and approximately S$207 million seized from over 101,000 frozen bank accounts.

5. There are six ASEAN Member States that are currently members of FRONTIER+, and we will continue to encourage more to join.