Singapore has given Meta, the parent company of Facebook, a deadline of September 30 to implement measures that combat scammers impersonating government officials on the platform. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a directive requiring Meta to target and remove scam advertisements, accounts, and profiles that masquerade as key government office holders. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to S$1 million (US$776 000), with an additional daily penalty of up to S$100 000 if the offense continues after conviction.
The move follows a sharp rise in scams on Facebook, where fraudsters have used fake advertisements, accounts and profiles to impersonate government officials, including the Prime Minister. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, scams involving government impersonation increased by 200 percent in the first half of 2025, causing losses of S$126 million. One notable case involved scammers using deepfakes of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes.
Meta has taken steps to address impersonation scams globally, including in Singapore, but authorities remain concerned that the problem persists. Consequently, the police ordered the online platform to act under the Online Criminal Harms Act passed last year. This is the first time the Act has been used to require an online platform to tackle the rising scam problem in the city‑state.
The Singapore government’s action highlights growing concerns about online scams and the need for social‑media companies to assume responsibility for combating them. With the deadline looming, Meta must demonstrate its commitment to tackling the issue and protecting its users. The outcome of this directive could set a precedent for other countries to take similar action against online platforms that fail to address scams and impersonation.
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