Protection from Scams Bill

with moneys standing to the credit of, and held in the name of, the scam victim; or (b)with moneys standing to the credit of, and held in the names of, 2 or more persons, at least one of whom is the scam victim;

sending or receiving oral or written messages, voice calls or video calls;

sending or receiving electronic documents;

sending or receiving still or moving images;

sending or receiving audio or video files; or

providing access to the Internet,using any technology (including remote communication technology), and includes a mobile phone, wireless handheld device (such as a tablet computer) and wearable device (such as a smart watch);

an advance, a loan or other facility that is granted by a bank to a customer who is an individual, and that gives the customer access to any funds or financial guarantee provided by the bank; or

any other liability that is incurred by a bank on behalf of a customer who is an individual;

the Internet;

telephone or any other communication device;

television or radio; or

any other kind of electronic or other technology for facilitating communication,but excludes any specific system or method of communication that the Minister, by order in the Gazette, declares is not to be treated as remote communication for the purposes of this Act;

has committed, participated in or facilitated the commission of, or taken any step preparatory to, or in furtherance of, the commission of, any scam offence against a scam victim, whether in Singapore or elsewhere; and

has interacted with the scam victim substantially via remote communication for the purposes of the activity or step mentioned in paragraph (a);

the specified officer has reason to believe that a scam victim will —

instruct the bank or any of the banks to transfer any money from a bank account to a scammer (whether directly or indirectly through any intermediary); (ii)withdraw any money from a bank account with the intention of giving the money (or any part of the money) to a scammer (whether directly or indirectly through any intermediary); or

apply for any credit facility from the bank or any of the banks, or draw down on any credit facility granted by the bank or any of the banks, with the intention of benefitting a scammer by a drawdown on the credit facility; and

the restriction order is necessary for the protection of the scam victim, having regard to —

the time required by any specified officer, relative of the scam victim or other persons (including, but not limited to, non‑profit organisations and non‑governmental organisations) to implement any measures to reduce the risk of the scam victim becoming, or continuing to be, a victim of a scam offence; and

all other relevant circumstances.

the scam victim; (b)any joint account holder of that bank account.

a scam victim in relation to whom the restriction order is issued;

any joint account holder of a bank account of a scam victim maintained by a bank which is subject to the restriction order.

in the prescribed form and specify the grounds on which it is made; (b)accompanied by the prescribed documents or information; and

made within the prescribed period after the time of receipt of the notification relating to the decision appealed against.

consider any relevant documents or information other than those submitted by the appellant; and

decide an appeal —

based solely on documentary evidence; and

without holding any hearing of the appeal.

reject the appeal and confirm the specified officer’s decision; or

allow the appeal and revoke, substitute or vary the specified officer’s decision.

does not affect the operation of the decision appealed against or prevent the taking of any action to implement the decision; and (b)unless otherwise directed by the Commissioner, the decision appealed against must be complied with until the determination of the appeal.

a bank; or

an officer, employee or agent of a bank,for anything done or omitted to be done with reasonable care and in good faith in complying with any restriction order or in the execution or purported execution of any duty under this Act.

any person purporting to act in any such capacity; and

for a bank whose affairs are managed by its members — any of those members as if the member were a director of the bank.

to prescribe anything that is required or permitted to be prescribed by this Act; and

generally for the purposes of this Act.

the person or persons (each called in this subsection an affected person) who must be notified of an issue, cancellation, variation or extension of a restriction order under section 4(1) or 5;

the person or persons who must notify an affected person;

the time within which an affected person must be notified;

the manner in which an affected person may be notified; (e)the circumstances in which an affected person is deemed to have received a notification; and

the procedure for an appeal under section 7.