Under a new rule that took effect on Tuesday, Singaporean police have the authority to seize someone’s bank account and halt money transactions if they believe the individual is being defrauded.
According to officials, the action is intended to address a prevalent problem that police officers encounter: victims frequently reject warnings that they are being conned. Although some members of parliament have characterised the proposal as invasive, MPs enacted the bill earlier this year.
Scams have become an increasingly serious issue in Singapore, reaching a record S$1.1 billion ($860m; £630m) in 2024. If the police believe a potential victim is being scammed, they can force banks to prevent them from conducting transactions under the new Protection from Scams Act. Additionally, police have the authority to prevent a possible victim from using financial services and ATMs.
Even if the potential victim does not trust warnings that they are being scammed, a police officer can nonetheless make the judgement. According to Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the owner of the bank account would still be able to access his money for valid purposes, such as paying bills and everyday needs, but he will only be able to utilise it as the police see fit.
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