New research shows that Singapore is the most targeted country for job scams among Asia-Pacific

Singapore is facing a growing wave of jobs and income scams, a new research from Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, shows that Singapore has become the most targeted nation in Asia-Pacific (APAC) for job-related fraud. The findings are especially concerning as millions of dollars are lost each year with nearly one in five Singaporeans (around 18%) reported falling victim to a scam.

The new research sheds light on a troubling trend: with economic pressures mounting, rises in living costs ,and financial uncertainty, a growing number of Singaporeans are turning to online platforms in search of job opportunities and “deals”. Unfortunately, online platforms are susceptible to being exploited by scammers.

Key findings

The research was conducted by Trend Micro in August 2025 as part of a global study of 7,693 consumers across Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Of which, 535 consumers aged 18 and above were surveyed in Singapore.

• 96% of Singaporeans report worries about financial security, with 47% indicating that their source of income has been negatively impacted in the last 12 months, and 62% saying they were negatively affected by growing living costs. This growing financial insecurity has led to Singaporeans taking more risks online, making them targets for scammers offering fake job opportunities or deals.
• 69% of Singaporeans have received unsolicited job or income offers via text or email. This makes Singapore the most targeted nation in APAC for job scams, with 53% reported being targeted by job scams, exceeding countries like Australia (42%), New Zealand (39%), and Japan (12%). Additional research shows that 35% of these job offers originate from unknown sources, and approximately 47% are sent by individuals who do not identify themselves, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to verify legitimacy and avoid being scammed.
• 25% of Singaporeans choose to engage with the text or emails received, 35% driven by the need for extra cash and 31% driven by curiosity, with the majority of offers received promising easy money.
• 79% of Singaporeans actively look for deals online to seek relief from rising costs. This has made them vulnerable to fraudulent deals, with almost 93% of consumers saying they “almost always” or “occasionally” click on online promotional deals, creating a rich environment for scammers to lure victims with fake sales and discounts.

Scammers are adaptable

As more people engage in online job searches and purchases, scammers have adapted to meet these new digital trends. Fraudulent job offers and fake discounts and deals are just the tip of the iceberg as scammers continue to refine their tactics and strategies to take advantage of people’s growing fears and anxiety regarding financial security.

As quoted from Ashley Millar, Consumer Education Director at Trend Micro: “We are seeing a disturbing rise in scams because of the combined pressures of financial instability and increased digital activity. Scammers are quick to identify and exploit vulnerabilities, making consumer education more important than ever.”

What can consumers do to stay safe?

• Avoid clicking on suspicious links: If a deal seems ‘too-good-to-be-true’, it just might be. Always double-check a website’s URL and ensure it is legitimate before entering any personal or financial information.
• Be sceptical of unsolicited offers: Always verify the legitimacy of job offers and income opportunities. Legitimate companies will not reach out via unsolicited messages.
• Stay informed: Keep up to date with the latest scam-related news, and keep in mind to be careful when clicking on links.