The legal framework
Identity fraud is prosecuted as cheating by personation and under the Computer Misuse Act. Misuse of Singpass credentials — the national digital identity — is prosecuted aggressively, and it is an offence to hand your Singpass details to someone else, even willingly. ScamShield and the police anti-scam centre support victims.
Singapore prosecutes identity misuse as cheating by personation under the Penal Code, and treats misuse of Singpass — the national digital identity — with particular severity, because it unlocks government services, banking and contracts. Disclosing your Singpass credentials to someone else is itself an offence, even if you were deceived into it, which is a point many people learn too late.
Key points
| Penal Code | Cheating by personation and forgery offences |
|---|---|
| Computer Misuse Act | Unauthorised access and use of a computer |
| Singpass | Disclosing your credentials to another person is itself an offence |
| Anti-Scam Centre | Can freeze recipient accounts quickly if reported fast |
| Credit | Credit Bureau Singapore report can be obtained for a small fee |
| Banking | Shared responsibility framework governs losses from phishing scams |
| Shared responsibility framework | Allocates losses between banks, telecom operators and customers |
| Money lock | Funds can be locked so they cannot be transferred digitally |
In practice
- Call the police anti-scam hotline immediately; speed determines whether funds can be held.
- Change your Singpass password and review the transaction history in the app.
- Ask your bank to block cards and review recent applications.
- Obtain your credit bureau report to check for accounts opened in your name.
- Use the money lock feature to ring-fence savings from digital transfers.
Where to go
- Singapore Police Force anti-scam helpline.
- ScamShield.
- Credit Bureau Singapore.
Worth knowing
Never give Singpass credentials to anyone, including people claiming to offer a job or a loan: doing so is an offence in itself and has led to prosecutions of victims. Never share Singpass credentials, even with an employer or a supposed lender. Doing so is an offence and has led to prosecution of victims.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if someone uses my Singpass?
Report immediately to the Singpass helpdesk to suspend the account and to the police. Be aware that handing over your Singpass details to another person is itself an offence: people recruited to open accounts or take loans have been prosecuted, and claiming you were tricked is not a complete answer.
What should you do in the first hour?
Call your bank and freeze the affected accounts and cards, change the passwords on your email first and then on everything linked to it, and turn on two-factor authentication. Take screenshots of everything before anything is deleted. Then report to the police and keep the reference number: banks, lenders and telecom operators will ask for it before they reverse anything.
Official sources and links
- gov.sg — official government portal
- Singapore Statutes Online — legislation in force