Tracking scam network reappearance and recurrence to assess effectiveness of platform disruption measures

Question:

Mr Gabriel Lam: To ask the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Police track the extent to which 12 scam networks that were disrupted through the removal of social media accounts, pages or advertisements subsequently reappear through newly created accounts; and (b) whether recurrence rates are used to assess the effectiveness of platform disruption measures.

Answer:

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

1. The Police do not track whether disrupted scam networks reappear through newly created accounts, pages or advertisements. There are significant challenges to establish conclusively that newly created accounts, pages or advertisements are operated by the same scam network that was previously disrupted.