Singapore Issues First Online Criminal Harms Act Order to Meta Over Facebook Scam Surge

Singapore's police have issued a directive to Meta to implement robust anti-scam measures on Facebook targeting advertisements and accounts impersonating government officials, as part of the first enforcement under the country's Online Criminal Harms Act effective from February 2024. The directive addresses a surge in government official impersonation scams, which nearly tripled to 1,762 cases in the first half of 2025, causing losses of approximately S$126.5 million, up 88-90% from the previous year. Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming emphasized that Facebook remains the top platform exploited by scammers and that more decisive action is necessary to curb these scams, warning that failure to comply could result in fines up to S$1 million. Despite previous measures such as enhanced user verification and safety notices, Facebook Marketplace was rated the weakest among e-commerce platforms in anti-scam features, prompting further government intervention. The directive is part of Singapore’s broader anti-scam strategy focusing on prevention, detection, firm action, and public education, with ongoing collaboration between Meta, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the police. Authorities highlighted the significant financial impact on victims, some losing life savings, underscoring the urgency of these measures.