by Theleaders | May 11, 2026 5:56 pm
SINGAPORE, May 11 — The Singapore Police Force (SPF) will establish a new Cyber Command in July to consolidate its counter‑scam and cybercrime capabilities.
The announcement was made at an anti‑scam conference, according to a report by CNA.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming said the new unit “will be the tip of the spear in SPF’s response to cyber threats, and be at the forefront of protecting Singaporeans from the threat of cybercrime and scams.”
The SPF Cyber Command will begin with about 200 officers across operations, investigations and intelligence.
The police plan to eventually expand the unit to more than 400 officers as its capabilities grow.
The Cyber Command will take over the existing cybercrime unit under the Criminal Investigation Department and the Anti‑Scam Command under the Commercial Affairs Department.
A new cyber operations centre within the command will detect and disrupt online criminal activity in real time.
The centre will identify threat actors, trace their infrastructure and dismantle scam‑related networks.
Goh said the centre will use technology to “detect phishing campaigns more quickly and at scale” and identify scam enablers such as fake websites and malicious phone lines.
The Anti‑Scam Centre will expand its tracing teams to interdict cryptocurrency and use blockchain intelligence.
It will continue working with financial institutions to trace and recover funds and build specialised cryptocurrency‑tracing capabilities.
The Cyber Command will target scam and cybercrime syndicates, including those behind ransomware, malware and transnational fraud.
Its investigation teams will work with international partners to act against both local and overseas threat actors.
Goh said the cross‑border nature of cybercrime requires “a strong global network of like‑minded partners… to help us work together to take down criminal syndicates.”
The command will lead efforts to strengthen international and public‑private partnerships in cybercrime enforcement.
It will reorganise existing partnership frameworks and expand collaboration in information sharing, threat disruption and investigations.
The Cyber Command will also serve as a hub for developing specialist talent and technical skills.
The police will recruit, train and deploy both uniformed and civilian officers across roles such as cyberthreat hunting, scam investigations and disruption.
The number of full‑time National Service Cybercrime Operators will increase over time, and a contingent of national servicemen specialising in scam and cybercrime work will be formed.
Goh said Singapore must stay ahead of evolving threats to maintain public trust in a highly digital society.
He noted that Singapore recorded 37,308 scam cases last year, down from 51,501 in 2024.
He said scammers exploit technical vulnerabilities and social engineering to reach victims “with speed and at scale.”
The Anti‑Scam Centre has recovered more than S$730 million (RM2.2 billion) since 2019.
Goh said Singapore’s efforts are supported by legislation such as the Online Criminal Harms Act and the Protection from Scams Act.
He said the government has required higher‑risk online service providers to introduce stronger protective measures and warned that authorities “will act decisively when they fall short.”
He added that penalties have been strengthened to deter scam mules and that laws will continue to be updated to protect citizens.
Goh cited an Interpol report that found fraud enabled by artificial intelligence can be “up to 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods.”
He said this poses a serious concern for open and digitally connected societies.
The conference was organised by the Singapore Police Force with partners from France, the United Arab Emirates and the International Security Alliance.
Several officers at the event highlighted the challenges of tackling cryptocurrency scams.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Lee Hua Sheng said the crypto tracing team has handled more than 2,800 cases since March 2025.
He said, “We have transitioned to a proactive approach, taking steps to identify and protect victims before further losses occur, preventing considerable sums from falling into the hands of scammers.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police Shariff Munshi said crypto scams are difficult to tackle because transactions are “fast, borderless, and irreversible.”
“Once the funds are moved, freezing them becomes extremely difficult. Scammers exploit this by rapidly moving funds across multiple wallets and jurisdictions within seconds, deliberately obfuscating the trail,” he added.
Special Constable Bryant Neo said many victims are drawn in by “get rich quick” expectations and often assume funds can be easily recovered.
He said recovery is complex and uncertain, and public education remains essential.
Source URL: https://theleaders-online.com/singapore-police-set-up-cyber-command-to-boost-scam-and-cybercrime-response/
Copyright ©2026 The Leaders Online unless otherwise noted.