Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the Number of Scam Cases Reported in 2020, by Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law

Question:

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many scam cases have been reported in 2020 and what is the total financial loss; (b) how many cases have a successful recovery of losses incurred, whether partially or in full, and what is the total amount recovered; and (c) what is the age profile of the victims of such cases.

Answer:

1. In 2020, 15,756 cases of scams were reported to the Police. The total amount lost was $268.4 million. More than 11,190 reports involving total losses of more than $164.6 million were referred to the SPF’s Anti-Scam Centre (ASC), with the ASC successfully recovering more than $57.6 million in about 35% of these cases.

2. The victims are of a wide range of ages; everyone is susceptible. Some age groups, however, are over-represented in particular scam types.

3. For e-commerce scams, social media impersonation scams, loan scams, investment scams, banking-related phishing scams, credit-for-sex scams, and China official impersonation scams, young adults between the age of 20 and 39 years old were more likely to fall prey. For non-banking related phishing scams and internet love scams, adults between the age of 30 and 49 years old were more susceptible. For tech support scams, victims between the age of 40 and 69 years old formed the majority.