The total number of reported crimes in Singapore increased by 11.6 percent to 18,121 cases in the first half, compared with 16,240 cases in the same period in 2019, Channel News Asia reports. In a news release, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said the increase was mainly due to the rise in scams. Online scams increased significantly as Singaporeans stayed home and carried out more online transactions during the coronavirus pandemic. E-commerce scams, social media impersonation scams, loan scams and banking-related phishing scams are "of particular concern", said the authorities, with these types of scams making up 71 per cent of the top 10. The total number of reported cases for these four types rose sharply by 163 percent, the police, said.

Source: The Standard August 26, 2020 07:11 UTC