If you've lost money to a potential scam, please immediately file a police report online or in person at the nearest Neighbourhood Police Post.

• Please refer to our guide on what to include when you file a police report.

• If you have already made a police report, please follow up with SPF using this Enquiry Form.

Please also contact your bank immediately to cancel the fraudulent transaction(s).

• Please refer to this list for your Bank's Anti-Scam Hotline.

How long does a police investigation for a scam-related case take?

The time taken to complete an investigation into a scam-related case depends on several factors, such as the type of scam, how well the scammer covers his tracks and whether the monies have been transferred overseas. If monies have been transferred overseas — which often is the case when it comes to scams that happened in Singapore — then the time taken is necessarily longer. In view of the factors highlighted above, the time taken for each case may differ.

When will I obtain updates for my police case?

An acknowledgement letter/email will be sent to you within seven working days after you have reported your case. The Investigation Officer (IO) in charge of your case will update you when there are significant developments to the case. We seek your understanding that every case is unique and the time taken to investigate each case differs. If urgent police assistance is required, please call ‘999’.

I was a victim of an online scam and was cheated of my money. Will the Police be able to recover my money?

A typical modus operandi by scam syndicates is to move scammed monies quickly between multiple bank accounts, including to overseas bank accounts. If the money is transferred overseas, fund recovery can be challenging as different jurisdictions have different recovery process and legislation. The chances of recovery once the funds have been transferred out of Singapore are very low, and it is likely that the money may no longer be recoverable.

Why is it so challenging for the Police to recover my money if it has been transferred out of Singapore?

Overseas accounts reside outside of Singapore’s jurisdiction and the Singapore Police Force will not be able to exercise any legal powers to freeze or seize the account or compel a foreign-based bank to reverse the transactions. In such cases, the Police can only notify our foreign counterparts of the incident and seek their assistance to investigate into the matter. It also depends on the laws of the foreign country and the internal business policies of the foreign banks involved. The chances of recovery once the funds have been transferred out of Singapore are very low, and it is likely that the money may no longer be recoverable.

How long does the Police take to return my money if it is recovered?

The Police will only be able to return any seized monies to victims upon the conclusion of investigations. The amount of time it takes to complete investigations, and correspondingly, the amount of time it takes for seized monies to be returned to the victims, depends on many different factors and differs across the various types of scams. For example, whether there are multiple claimants and whether the monies are still relevant for the purposes of investigation, court trial or other court proceedings.

Where can I seek support?

If you require emotional support during the investigation and/or court process, inform your Investigation Officer (IO) who will arrange for you to speak to a Victim Care Officer (VCO). VCOs are volunteers who are trained in providing emotional and practical support to victims of crime as they undergo the criminal justice process.

• Please refer here for more community support avenues. Remember, you are not alone in this!

For more information:

Please refer to our Anti-Scam Resource Guide in all 4 national languages here.