Singapore Police Force Anti-Scam Centre (ASC)

The Anti-Scam Centre (ASC) is a dedicated unit within the Singapore Police Force's Criminal Investigation Department. Its primary function is to work in real time with Singapore's banks and payment service providers to freeze accounts suspected of receiving scam proceeds, interrupting the movement of stolen funds before they are withdrawn or transferred overseas. The ASC operates around the clock and has forged direct communication channels with financial institution fraud teams to enable rapid account-freezing.

The ASC also contributes to international cooperation with overseas police forces and financial intelligence units. When funds have been remitted abroad, the ASC can issue requests to foreign counterparts through INTERPOL and bilateral channels in an effort to intercept the money further down the chain. Success rates for cross-border recovery depend on the speed of reporting and the cooperation of the recipient country's financial system.

For consumers, the most important action when money has been lost is to call the SPF Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688 immediately. This triggers ASC's response. Filing an online police report is important but should not delay the phone call if the transfer is very recent. Consumers should also call their bank's fraud hotline simultaneously. The ASC publishes data on funds successfully frozen, which illustrates the importance of early reporting.