Event Highlights

A Shared Responsibility for a Safer Digital Tomorrow

On 15 August 2024, the Tech For Good Institute moderated a panel at Safer with Google 2024. The discussion emphasised the importance of a whole-of-society approach in creating a safer and more informed digital environment in Singapore amidst the rise in scams and frauds.

As technology advances and the digital economy flourishes in Singapore, so too do cybersecurity threats. The Singapore Police Force’s 2024 mid-year scam and cyber-crime statistics reveals that the number of scam cases in the first half of 2024 reached a new record high, increasing by 16.3% to 26,587, from 22,853 reported during the same period in 2023. This amounts to a loss of over $385.6 million dollars for victims in just the first half of 2024.

Notably, AI-driven scams and fraud operations represent a growing threat in Singapore where 55% of its population uses generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) tools everyday. Unfortunately, this includes bad actors and cybercriminals who are exploiting this technology to craft more convincing phishing attempts and deep fake scams that make their attacks harder to detect. This has led to an estimated 13% of phishing emails reported in 2023 being likely assisted or generated by artificial intelligence (AI) as stated by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA).

The surge in scams and frauds poses significant threats to digital trust and the adoption of new technologies—both of which are critical to the growth of the digital economy. If fully mobilised, AI-powered products are expected to generate SGD$198.3 billion of economic benefits for businesses in Singapore in 2030. Without confidence in the safety of their data, money, and digital assets, citizens and consumers may hesitate to adopt digital technologies and develop a digital trust gap that slows the growth of Singapore’s digital economy. Building resilience against scams and frauds thus becomes an imperative for building a trusted and thriving digital ecosystem in Singapore.

To address these challenges, the Tech For Good Institute moderated a distinguished panel of experts at Safer with Google 2024. The panel, featuring representatives from the public, private, and civil sectors, discussed the current scams and frauds landscape in Singapore, gaps in existing anti-cybercrime efforts, and the need for a whole-of-society effort to strengthen Singaporeans’ digital defence. The insights from this discussion on building a resilient digital ecosystem can be distilled into a ‘3 Cs’ approach, further elaborated below.

Moderator and Panellists

Ming Tan, Founding Executive Director, Tech For Good Institute
Gabriel Tan, Founder, Bamboo Builders
Kuan Seah Chua, Deputy Chief Executive, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA)
Patsian Low, Vice President, Inclusive Impact and Sustainability, Visa Asia-Pacific

Key Takeaways

1. Cooperation and Data Sharing between governments, the private sector, and impact sector players

Relying solely on regulation to combat scams and fraud is not enough. Cybersecurity in today’s digital economy is no longer the responsibility of a single entity; it requires a collaborative effort across governments, private sector entities, and civil society. Each of these actors brings unique strengths to the table to ensure that partnerships and anti-scam strategies are commercially viable, sustainable, and meet community needs. The public sector should concentrate on developing and implementing protective technologies, coordinating across agencies, and forming partnerships to safeguard citizens and infrastructure from scams and fraud. The private sector, in turn, should focus on driving innovation, deploying secure digital solutions, fostering consumer trust, and collaborating across sectors to build a resilient ecosystem against cyber threats. Meanwhile, the impact sector is essential for capacity-building and tailoring education for vulnerable populations. By meeting people where they are and leveraging grassroots networks and community connections, the impact sector promotes digital literacy and empowers individuals to protect themselves from cyber risks. Harnessing the strengths of each sector in these partnerships is crucial for sharing knowledge, coordinating responses, and building trust—all of which are essential for effectively combating digital threats.

2. Collective action with communities to ensure our initiatives are responsive and fit-for-purpose

Effective cooperation to build resilience against scams and frauds should not stop at the institutional level; it should extend to communities on the ground. With the increasing sophistication and rapid evolution of digital threats, the elderly are no longer the only group that are vulnerable to scams. Young people and digital natives are also at risk due to their overconfidence in their digital abilities. To address these challenges effectively, it is crucial to engage with the communities most impacted. Collaborating with local leaders and master trainers who understand and speak the language of these communities, and who have built trust over time, is essential. This community-based approach ensures outreach is both relevant and effective, empowering individuals of all demographics with the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves against cyber risks.

3. Coupling of tech and non-tech solutions to combat scams effectively

Technology is a double-edged sword—while scammers exploit it for malicious purposes, it can also be harnessed for protection and prevention. For instance, Singapore’s ScamShield app, developed by Open Government Products under GovTech, detects scam calls by cross-referencing unknown numbers with a database maintained by the Singapore Police Force and uses an on-device algorithm to assess incoming SMSes. Complementing this, the ScamShield Bot simplifies scam reporting by enabling users to forward suspicious messages from platforms like WhatsApp to authorities. However, technology alone is not enough. Effective anti-scam efforts also require human-centric approaches. For example, in support of the ‘I Can ACT Against Scams’ campaign led by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), YouTube’s Creators for Impact collaborated with 12 local channels to produce videos that enhanced public awareness and vigilance. By combining technological solutions with targeted non-tech strategies, a more robust defence against evolving digital threats can be built.

In our ongoing commitment to advance research on scams, the Tech For Good Institute is excited to announce that we are the knowledge partner in a new collaboration with Bamboo Builders and Google.org. Together, we will investigate the scams landscape across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. This partnership will focus on enhancing anti-scam training and involving youth ambassadors in scam prevention efforts. Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming research and initiatives aimed at combating scams and fraud.