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$913.1 million in losses in 2025, a 24.8% year-on-year decline from 2024; however, government official impersonation scams still surged 123.6%, while job scams remained the most commonly reported scam category.
Key Stat Tiles
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Executive Summary
In 2025, Singapore saw a significant 24.8 percent year-on-year reduction in overall scam and cybercrime offenses, with reported cases falling to 41,974. Scams remained the dominant threat, representing 88.9 percent of the total figure. Accompanying the lower case volumes, total financial losses from scams experienced a 17.9 percent decline, dropping to approximately 913.1 million Singapore dollars from the previous year. Despite this broader positive downward trajectory, government official impersonation scams bucked the trend by surging 123.6 percent to become the costliest scam type, while job scams and e-commerce scams persisted as the two most frequently reported categories nationwide.
Methodology Callout
Data Source: Singapore Police Force Annual Scam & Cybercrime Brief 2025 (published Feb 2026)
Coverage Period: Full-year 2025 reporting cycle
- Scam and cybercrime cases reported to Singapore authorities
- Financial losses reported by victims
- Categorization based on primary scam type
Top Scam Types
Reported Cases By Type
Volume distribution · 2025
| Type | Cases | Losses (S$M) | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business email compromise | 6,210 | $35.3M | 3.9% |
| Phishing | 5,840 | $39.9M | 4.4% |
| Job Scams | 9,783 | $123.5M | 13.5% |
| Govt. Impersonation | 7,421 | $242.9M | 26.6% |
| Investment | 3,120 | $336.2M | 36.8% |
| E-commerce | 6,210 | $20M | 2.5% |
Comparative Breakdown
Severity & momentum
Business email compromise
6,210
Phishing
5,840
Job Scams
9,783
Govt. Impersonation
7,421
Investment
3,120
E-commerce
6,210
Cases vs. losses trajectory
2021 — 2025
| Year | Cases | Losses (S$M) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,933 | $632 |
| 2022 | 32,000 | $660.7 |
| 2023 | 48,000 | $655 |
| 2024 | 51,501 | $1100 |
| 2025 | 41,974 | $913.1 |
2021–2024: Rapid Acceleration
Total scam cases experienced a sustained, high-growth trajectory, more than doubling from 23,933 to a peak of 51,501 in just three years.
2024: Peak Financial Exposure
Total losses reached an all-time high of over $1.1 billion, representing a massive 68% increase in financial impact compared to 2023.
2025: Strategic Turnaround
For the first time in the recorded period, scam volume saw a significant double-digit decline of 27.6%, breaking the multi-year upward trend.
2021–2025: Increasing 'Cost Per Case'
Even though 2025 saw a return to case volumes closer to 2022 levels, the total financial loss ($913.1M) remained significantly higher than 2022 levels ($660.7M), indicating that scams are becoming more lucrative or high-stakes.
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 2024. All figures reflect cases reported to Singapore Police Force during the full-year 2024 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.