The Singapore government has issued a directive to Meta, the parent company of Facebook, requiring the introduction of new measures to curb impersonation scams.
The directive, issued under the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA), is the first of its kind.
Meta must comply by 30 September or face fines of up to S$1 million , the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on 25 September.
In addition to enhancing facial recognition technology, Meta must prioritise reviews of user reports from Singapore.
This includes addressing scam advertisements, accounts, profiles, and business pages impersonating key government office holders.
If Meta fails to comply and the offence continues after conviction, further fines of up to S$100,000 for each day may be imposed.
Surge in impersonation scams
The directive follows a surge in scams involving government official impersonation on Facebook.
Between June 2024 and June 2025, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and MHA disrupted around 2,000 fake advertisements and online accounts exploiting public figures.
MHA said Facebook is the leading platform for such impersonation scams.
Authorities stressed that preventing their spread is essential to safeguarding the public and maintaining trust in government institutions.
Although Meta has made global efforts to counter scams, MHA and SPF said they remain concerned by the continued high prevalence in Singapore.
The directive was first announced on 3 September during the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia 2025.
Authorities also indicated that similar measures may soon be required of other online platforms.
Meta’s response
Meta stated it prohibits impersonation and deceptive advertisements using public figures.
The company said it removes such content when detected and continues to strengthen detection systems, including the use of facial recognition.
A spokesperson said scammers constantly adapt, using all available platforms.
Meta highlighted its advertiser verification programme, investments in review teams, and cooperation with law enforcement to take legal action against perpetrators.
Scam losses in Singapore hit S$456 million in first half of 2025 despite drop from 2024
The action against Meta comes amid rising concerns about scams in Singapore.
Figures released by SPF on 30 August show scams caused losses of S$456.4 million between January and June 2025.
Although this is a decline from S$522.4 million lost during the same period in 2024, the number of large-value scams grew. Nearly 1,000 people lost at least S$100,000 in the first half of 2025, up from about 700 the previous year.
Most scams involved smaller amounts, with about 70 per cent of cases under S$5,000.
However, the median loss per case was still about S$1,500.
Social media, messaging platforms, phone calls, and online shopping sites remain the main channels exploited by scammers.
Meta’s products—Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram—accounted for 37.3 per cent of reported scam cases. TikTok, Telegram, and Carousell were also noted as platforms of concern.
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