Singapore’s war against scammers may finally be showing results—but the numbers reveal a more troubling reality: criminals are still finding new ways to steal millions, and ordinary victims remain their biggest target.
Singapore recorded a significant decline in both scam cases and financial losses in the first half of 2026, extending a downward trend that began last year. But despite the encouraging figures, more than S$410 million was still lost in just six months—proof that the scam epidemic is far from over.
According to the Singapore Police Force’s Mid-Year Scam and Cybercrime Brief, 16,821 scam cases were reported between January and June 2026, down 14.4% from 19,644 cases during the same period in 2025. Total losses also fell 17.9% year-on-year to approximately S$410.6 million.
The improvement follows a major turnaround in 2025, when Singapore saw its first annual decline in scam cases after years of increases. Scam cases fell 27.6% in 2025, while total losses dropped to about S$913 million, according to earlier police figures reported by CNA.
The Numbers Are Falling—But the Danger Hasn’t Disappeared
Scams accounted for a staggering 91.5% of all scam and cybercrime cases reported in Singapore during the first half of 2026. Online platforms remained the preferred hunting ground for criminals, who increasingly rely on deception and social engineering rather than directly hacking into victims’ accounts.
Perhaps the most alarming statistic is that 80.8% of reported scam cases involved victims transferring money themselves after being manipulated by scammers. That highlights a crucial shift in cybercrime: today’s criminals often don’t need to break into your bank account—they simply convince you to hand over the money.
Investment Scams Remain the Most Expensive Trap
Investment scams caused the biggest financial damage, costing victims approximately S$169.8 million across 2,256 cases in the first half of 2026.
While the number of cases declined, losses fell only slightly, showing that scammers are still successfully targeting victims for increasingly large amounts. Police said fraudsters have been impersonating organisations, including educational institutions and investment platforms, to lure people into fake investment communities on messaging apps.
The formula is often sophisticated: fake advertisements, seemingly legitimate investment advice, chat groups filled with impostors posing as successful investors, and eventually, pressure to send money.
Pokémon Cards and Online Shopping: The Unexpected Scam Boom
While investment scams drained the most money, e-commerce scams became Singapore’s most common scam type, rising 19.3% to 3,865 cases. Losses also climbed to around S$8.3 million.
One surprising trend stood out: Pokémon trading card scams more than doubled, with 605 reported cases and approximately S$1.2 million lost. Authorities said many cases involved pre-order scams, where buyers paid deposits or full amounts for highly sought-after collectibles that never arrived.
Government data also showed that Facebook recorded the highest aggregate losses from reported e-commerce scams, while Carousell recorded the highest number of cases during the period. The figures underscore the risks consumers face when buying from unfamiliar sellers online—particularly when deals involve advance payments and delivery dates months away.
Business Email Scams Surge Nearly 200% in Losses
Not every scam category is moving in the right direction.
Business email compromise scams saw losses surge 193.1% to S$57.3 million, while the number of reported cases rose 67.9%. These scams typically involve criminals impersonating businesses, suppliers, clients or company executives to redirect legitimate payments into fraudulent accounts.
Social media impersonation scams also increased, with cases rising nearly 48%. In many incidents, scammers used compromised messaging accounts to contact victims’ friends and relatives, often claiming they urgently needed financial help.
The message is clear: a familiar name or account is no longer enough proof that a request for money is genuine.
Seniors Still Face the Highest Average Losses
Although people below the age of 50 made up the majority of scam victims, older victims suffered the greatest average financial damage.
Victims aged 65 and above lost an average of S$42,347 per person in the first half of 2026, up from S$35,374 during the same period a year earlier.
That means the fight against scams isn’t simply about reducing case numbers. A smaller number of successful scams can still cause devastating financial consequences for individuals and families.
Authorities Recover Millions—But Prevention Remains the Best Defense
There was some encouraging news on the recovery front. Singapore’s Anti-Scam Centre recovered more than S$97.7 million in scam-related funds during the first half of the year and helped prevent at least S$127.1 million in potential losses through interventions. However, the recovered amount represents funds frozen in accounts and wallets and does not necessarily mean all of it has already been returned to victims.
The broader picture is sobering. The Straits Times has reported that Singapore has lost more than S$4 billion to scams since 2019, demonstrating the enormous scale of the country’s long-running battle against digital fraud.
A Win Against Scammers—Or Just a Warning Before Their Next Move?
Singapore’s latest figures are undoubtedly a positive sign. Fewer people are being scammed, and total losses are declining. But the rise in e-commerce fraud, business email compromise and impersonation scams shows that criminals are adapting quickly.
The biggest lesson from the 2026 report may be this: scammers don’t always need to hack their way into your life anymore. Sometimes, all they need is a convincing message, a fake investment opportunity—or one moment of trust.
As scam tactics become more sophisticated, declining numbers should not be mistaken for victory. The battle may be improving—but for millions of people online, the next scam could already be sitting in their inbox, messaging app or social media feed.
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