A new law in Singapore allows police to seize control of a person’s bank account and block money transfers if they suspect the person is being scammed.
The BBC reports that the move is aimed at addressing the phenomenon of victims of fraud refusing to believe they are being scammed. despite warnings.
Under the new Protection from Scams Act, the police can order banks to block a potential victim from making transactions if they suspect the person is being scammed.
Police can also block a potential victim’s use of ATMs and credit services.
The decision can be taken by a police officer, even if the potential victim does not believe warnings that they are being scammed.
The bank account owner will still have access to his funds for legitimate reasons, such as to pay for daily expenses and bills, but can only use money at the discretion of the police, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
According to the BBC, some lawmakers have described the measure as intrusive.
Bank-account-related scams are considered a worsening problem in Singapore, with the sums involved rising to a record $860 million in 2024.
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