Key Scam Trends and Cases in 2025
Scam and cybercrime cases in Singapore fall 24.8% in 2025, but impersonation scams surge sharply
According to the Singapore Police Force Annual Scam & Cybercrime Brief 2025, Singapore recorded 41,974 scam and cybercrime cases with S$913.1 million in losses in 2025, a 24.8% year-on-year decline from 2024; however, government official impersonation scams still surged 123.6%, while job scams remained the most commonly reported scam category.
Key Stat Tiles
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Executive Summary
In 2025, Singapore saw a significant 24.8 percent year-on-year reduction in overall scam and cybercrime offenses, with reported cases falling to 41,974. Scams remained the dominant threat, representing 88.9 percent of the total figure. Accompanying the lower case volumes, total financial losses from scams experienced a 17.9% decline, dropping to approximately 913.1 million Singapore dollars from the previous year. Despite this broader positive downward trajectory, government official impersonation scams bucked the trend by surging 123.6% to become the costliest scam type, while job scams and e-commerce scams persisted as the two most frequently reported categories nationwide.
Methodology Callout
Data Source: Singapore Police Force Annual Scam & Cybercrime Brief 2025 (published Feb 2026)
Coverage Period: Full-year 2025 reporting cycle
- Scam and cybercrime cases reported to Singapore authorities
- Financial losses reported by victims
- Categorization based on primary scam type
Top Scam Types
Reported Cases By Type
Volume distribution · 2025
| Type | Cases | % by Case | Losses (S$M) | % by Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce | 6,704 | 18.0% | $16.7M | 1.83% |
| Phishing | 6,264 | 16.8% | $39.9M | 4.4% |
| Investment | 5,462 | 14.6% | $336.2M | 36.8% |
| Job Scams | 5,575 | 14.9% | $123.5M | 13.5% |
| Govt. Impersonation | 3,363 | 9.0% | $242.9M | 26.6% |
Comparative Breakdown
Severity & momentum
E-commerce
6,704
Phishing
6,264
Investment
5,462
Job Scams
5,575
Govt. Impersonation
3,363
Cases vs. losses trajectory
2021 — 2025
| Year | Cases | Losses (S$M) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,933 | 632 |
| 2022 | 31,728 | 660.7 |
| 2023 | 46,563 | 651.8 |
| 2024 | 51,501 | 1112.4 |
| 2025 | 37,308 | 913.1 |
2021–2024: Rapid Acceleration
Total scam cases more than doubled from 23,933 in 2021 to a peak of 51,501 in 2024, a sustained high-growth trajectory over three years.
2024: Peak Financial Exposure
Total losses reached an all-time high of S$1.11 billion in 2024, representing a 70.6% surge in financial impact compared to S$651.8M in 2023.
2025: Meaningful Turnaround
For the first time in the recorded period, scam volume fell significantly — down 27.6% from 51,501 to 37,308 cases — breaking the multi-year upward trend.
2021–2025: Rising 'Cost Per Case'
Despite 2025 case volumes falling back toward 2022 levels (31,728), losses of S$913.1M remain 38% higher than 2022's S$660.7M — indicating scams are becoming more financially damaging per incident.
Victim Demographics
Scam Victims Profile
Age distribution of victims in 2025
| Age group | Share |
|---|---|
| Adults | 36.1% |
| Young Seniors | 23.6% |
| Young Adults | 19.9% |
| Elderly | 14.8% |
| Youths | 5.6% |
Cases by Contact Method
How scammers reached victims
| Contact method | Cases | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Social media | 10,448 | 32.1% |
| Messaging platforms | 9,355 | 28.8% |
| Phone calls | 5,477 | 16.9% |
| Online shopping | 3,804 | 11.7% |
| Other websites | 2,035 | 6.3% |
| Emails | 934 | 2.9% |
| SMSes | 450 | 1.4% |
Top Sector Exposure
Most vulnerable sectors
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Methodology Appendix
Data is compiled from official reporting by the Singapore Police Force Annual Scams & Cybercrime Brief 2025. All figures reflect cases reported to Singapore Police Force during the full-year 2025 reporting cycle.
Limitations: Figures represent reported cases only; actual scam incidence may be higher due to under-reporting. Loss figures are based on amounts reported by victims and may not capture all indirect financial impacts.
Correction Policy: If errors are identified, this page will be updated with a correction notice. Please contact us to flag any inaccuracies.