Kuala lumpur: Singapore police will issue an Implementation Directive to Meta requiring the company to stamp out scam advertisements, accounts, profiles, and business pages impersonating key government officials on Facebook. Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming stated that failure to comply could result in fines of up to S$1 million.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this directive represents the government’s first use of the Implementation Directive. The decision to issue it to Meta comes as Facebook is identified as the primary platform utilized by scammers for such impersonation scams. The police have determined that more decisive action is necessary to curb these fraudulent activities. This announcement was made by Minister Goh at the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2025.
The Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA), effective since February 2024, empowers the government to address online criminal activities more effectively. It includes the authority to issue directives to online services to limit Singapore users’ exposure to such content. Minister Goh emphasized that Singapore will continue to collaborate closely with Meta to tackle Government Official Impersonation Scams (GOIS) as part of a broader partnership between the Home Ministry and the police on anti-scam initiatives.
Minister Goh highlighted the alarming rise in GOIS cases, which increased by about 200 percent in the first half of this year, reaching over 1,760 cases compared to the same period in 2024. Financial losses also surged by approximately 90 percent to about S$126 million. On average, each GOIS scam results in a loss of about S$72,000, a significant amount that could severely impact victims’ life savings and plans.
Singapore will continue to evaluate the adequacy of anti-scam requirements imposed on online platforms. The police have designated TikTok as a designated online service, effective from September 1. This designation requires TikTok to comply with the Online Communication Services Code of Practice by February 28, 2026. This compliance will necessitate the implementation of appropriate systems, processes, and measures to proactively disrupt scams affecting Singaporean citizens.
Minister Goh also noted a significant increase in scam cases on TikTok, which rose by 240 percent in 2024 compared to 2023. Despite these challenges, the fight against scams remains a top national priority for Singapore. The country recorded a 26 percent decrease in scam cases in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, with financial losses also reduced by 13 percent.