Crime in Singapore

Crime rates in Singapore are some of the lowest in the world. As of 2016, the greatest domestic vice concern remain as commercial offences over the Internet, with a 47 per cent increase between 2014 and 2015.

Police statistics released in the year 2016 suggested a four per cent increase in overall crime with 33,608 cases from a population of more than five million. Terrorism remains as the key threat in Singapore, following attacks in Paris and Jakarta. Between the year 2014 and 2015, there was an observed statistical decrease in violent or serious property offences, housebreaking, theft and unlicensed moneylending harassment.

However, there was a noteworthy increase in awareness about scamming in 2015. From just 66 credit-for-sex scams in 2014, the number increased to 1,203 within 2015, with the reported victims being cheated a total of around S$2.9 million. The largest amount of money cheated include S$74,000 in a single case. A fraud syndicate was busted in China during December 2015 when a total of 43 were arrested from scams operated from Wechat call centres in China.

During the same period, internet love scams where women were the primary target, also rose from 198 in 2014 to 383 in 2015, involving around S$12 million in total. The largest amount of money cheated include S$528,000 in a single case.

E-commerce cheating cases increased by about 30 per cent between 2014 and 2015. Noted concerns as of 2016 may also include impersonation and employment scams.

As suggested by foreign travel advisory from the United Kingdom, petty crime such as pickpocketing and street theft do occur in Singapore although violent crime is deemed rare. Threats of terrorism remain as a major concern, with credit card fraud cases being indicated as another security warning by the United States Department of State. As a constant reminder from western consulars such as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, penalties for drug offences in Singapore remain severe and include capital punishment.

...
Wikipedia