Singapore police given powers to control bank accounts of scam victims

SINGAPORE -- Singapore lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bill giving the police force powers to control the bank accounts of scam victims, including potential victims, to protect them from further damage, in a move believed to make the country the first to do so.

The bill empowers law enforcement officials to issue a so-called "restriction order" to banks, which will limit the ability of someone to transfer funds if the police believe there's a risk that an individual will wire money to a scammer, based on the person's behavior and other evidences.