Singapore Orders Meta to Implement Stricter Anti-Scam Measures or Face Fine of Up to $775,698.

Singapore has ordered Meta to roll out stricter anti-scam measures on Facebook or risk a fine of up to S$1 million. The country's Online Criminal Harms Act was invoked after impersonation scams nearly tripled to 1,762 cases in the first half of 2025, with losses climbing 88% to S$126.5 million. Meta has faced global scrutiny over Facebook Marketplace's weak anti-fraud safeguards.

Singapore has ordered Meta Platforms Inc. to roll out stricter anti-scam measures on Facebook or face a potential fine of up to S$1 million. The directive, issued under the country's Online Criminal Harms Act, comes in response to a significant increase in impersonation scams involving government officials on the platform. According to police statistics, such scams nearly tripled to 1,762 cases in the first half of 2025, with losses climbing 88% to S$126.5 million compared to the same period in 2024 [1].

Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming stated that Facebook is the top platform used by scammers for impersonation scams, necessitating more decisive action. The order requires Meta to address scam advertisements, accounts, profiles, and business pages impersonating key government office holders on Facebook. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to S$1 million [2].

Meta has faced global scrutiny over its handling of online fraud, particularly on Facebook Marketplace, which has been ranked the worst in Singapore's E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings (TSR) for four consecutive years. The platform has previously been criticized for its lack of safeguards to combat e-commerce scams [3].

In August, the home affairs ministry found that over a third of all e-commerce scams reported in 2024 were perpetrated on Facebook. The ministry has acknowledged that Facebook Marketplace has required enhanced user verification measures and in-product safety notices, but these measures have not been sufficient to curb the scam problem [1].

The order to Meta is part of a broader effort by Singapore to combat scams, which have been a top national priority. The country is also monitoring other social media platforms, including TikTok, which has seen a 240% increase in scam cases in 2024. TikTok has been designated as a designated online service and must comply with anti-scam measures by February 2026 [2].

References:
[1] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L6N3UQ04Z:0-singapore-orders-meta-to-implement-anti-scam-measures-or-face-possible-fine/
[2] https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/police-to-issue-meta-first-online-harms-order-in-spore-to-fight-scams-possible-fines-of-up-to-1m
[3] https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/09/47465919/meta-faces-heat-in-singapore-over-facebook-marketplace-scams-minister-calls-for-more-decisive-action