Been scammed? In Singapore, police can now seize your bank account to halt transfers
Previously powerless to act, authorities can now suspend accounts and credit facilities for up to 30 days to prevent losses from fraud
The law, which was passed in January, allows authorities to halt bank transactions if there is compelling evidence an account holder is about to transfer money to a scammer, even if done so willingly.
Previously, police were powerless to stop potential scam victims from transferring money even if it was clear they were being cheated.
The restriction will see the individual’s bank accounts, ATM access and credit facilities suspended, while still allowing them to withdraw funds for daily living expenses.
The law “enables the police to better protect targets of ongoing scams”, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement on Monday.
“The restriction order is necessary for the protection of the individual. [It] will be issued only as a last resort, after other options to convince the individual have been exhausted,” it added.