Public Education and Resolution of Online Commercial Crime

Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the solving rate for online commercial offences; (b) whether the current legislative powers are sufficient for our law enforcement officers to tackle such cases effectively; and (c) what other measures is the Ministry implementing to improve the situation.

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what steps is the police taking to address the significant spike in online commercial crime cases; and (b) whether the public education measures taken by the police have been effective.

Mr K Shanmugam: Online commercial crime nearly doubled from 1,929 cases in 2014 to 3,759 cases in 2015. Examples of such crimes include cheating involving e-commerce, credit-for-sex scams and Internet love scams. Police are taking active steps to address this increase. First, Police are stepping up local enforcement efforts. In 2015, Police conducted four island wide enforcement operations targeting online scams and arrested 139 persons. Persons found to be perpetrating an online scam or who knowingly assist foreign syndicates in such criminal activities will be investigated and prosecuted.

Second, Police work closely with their foreign counterparts to foil such syndicates. For example, Police received reports of credit-for-sex scams committed by syndicates operating in China last year. As a result of collaboration between SPF and their Chinese counterparts, the Chinese police conducted simultaneous raids and detained 43 members of one such syndicate.

Third, Police are reviewing our laws to enhance the powers for officers to deal with online crime.

Fourth, Police have stepped up public education programmes, to raise awareness and prevent the public from falling victim to scams. Online crimes are particularly hard to solve because of the borderless nature of the internet. A significant proportion of online commercial crimes are committed remotely by foreign syndicates. Despite our best efforts in going after the perpetrators in such online commercial crimes, they will find new ways to exploit and prey on the vulnerabilities of potential victims, and hide themselves from law enforcement agencies. Awareness and prevention are therefore critical in addressing the rise in such crimes.

SPF and NCPC launched a dedicated anti-scam website, www.scamalert.sg, as a one-stop resource to keep the public abreast of the latest scams and the modus operandi of various scams. The website has attracted more than 170,000 visitors since its launch in November 2014.

Police also reach out to the public at locations with high human traffic, for example, displaying posters at hawker centres, bus stops, and train stations. Crime prevention commercials are also aired on local TV channels and at over 500 office buildings. Police will continually review and improve these public education measures to ensure they stay relevant and effective.

Ultimately however, beyond public education and outreach efforts, it is about how we as individuals and families are aware about the threats on the Internet and how vigilant and alert we are. We have to be cautious when we are online as the stranger on the other side may not be who he says he is, and when the offer sounds too good to be true.