Singapore police have mandated that Meta implement anti-scam measures on its social media platform Facebook to prevent impersonation of key government officials and combat online scams. This directive is the first under Singapore’s new Online Criminal Harms Act, which became law in February 2024, and companies could face fines of up to S$1 million ($775,698) for non-compliance. Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming explained that Facebook is the top platform used by scammers for impersonation scams, necessitating more decisive action to curb these activities.
In 2024, Singapore’s home affairs ministry reported that over a third of all e-commerce scams involved Facebook, and the platform’s Marketplace was rated the weakest among six e-commerce sites for anti-scam measures. To address these concerns, Meta stated it has invested heavily in detection systems, including facial recognition technology, and has strengthened its review teams. The company also provides users with tips to avoid scams and offers tools to report suspicious activity. Additionally, Meta has implemented advertiser verification processes and continues collaborations with law enforcement to take legal action against offenders.
Police statistics revealed that impersonation scams involving government officials nearly tripled in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, rising from 589 to 1,762 cases. Financial losses from these scams reached S$126.5 million in the same period, marking an 88% increase from the previous year’s S$67.2 million.
The Singapore government acknowledged that Facebook has introduced measures such as enhanced user verification for certain sellers and in-product safety notices. These initiatives aim to warn users of e-commerce scams and prevent financial losses. The measures were introduced after criticism that Facebook had failed to implement adequate safeguards previously.
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Overall, the government’s directive underscores the importance of stronger platform safeguards against scams, especially as online impersonation and financial crimes continue to rise. Meta’s efforts to improve detection and verification are viewed as critical components in safeguarding users and maintaining trust in the platform.
