online as well; the number of Singapore residents shopping online in 2014 was about 1.44 million, increasing by a compound annual growth rate of about 14% from 20124. As the use of the Internet becomes ubiquitous in Singapore, there will be an increasing number of opportunities for cybercriminals to strike. Rapid increase in cybercrimes 7. With the increase in online activity among Singaporeans, Singaporeans are increasingly becoming victims of cybercrimes. Cases investigated under the CMCA increased by 81 (+41.1%) cases in 2015 to 278 cases, compared to 197 cases in 2014. Traditional crime is also migrating online. While almost all physical crime classes registered a decrease in 2015 as compared to 20145, commercial crimes increased by 2,642 (+46.5%) cases in 2015 to 8,329 cases, compared to 5,687 cases in 2014. Within this class of crimes, cheating involving e-commerce, credit-for-sex scams and Internet love scams saw the largest increase in the number of cases (see Table 1). Table 1: Cheating involving e-commerce, credit-for-sex scam and Internet love scam cases (2014-2015) Number of cases in 2014 Number of cases in 2015 Increase (% change) Total sum cheated in 2015 Cheating involving e-commerce 1,665 2,173 508 (+30.5%) S$1.76 million Credit-for-sex scams 66 1,203 1,137 (+1,723%) S$2.9 million Internet love scams 198 383 185 (+93.4%) S$12 million 8. The impact of cybercrimes in Singapore has been high. The 2016 Norton Cybersecurity Insights Report found that cybercrime victims in Singapore had lost an average of S$545 to cybercrime in the past year, higher than the global average of US$358 (S$510)6. Need for better cyber hygiene 9. The growing number and impact of cybercrimes pose a credible threat to Singapore and Singaporeans. There is a need for greater public awareness of cyber hygiene practices, so that individuals and enterprises are able to take care of themselves in cyberspace. A survey by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (iDA) in 2013 found that only about 14% of local “Annual survey on infocomm usage in households and by individuals for 2014.” iDA. <https://www.ida.gov.sg/~/media/Files/Infocomm%20Landscape/Facts%20and%20Figures/SurveyReport/2014/2014%20HH%20public%20report% 20final.pdf> 5 Crimes Against Persons, Violent/Serious Property Crimes, Housebreaking and Related Crimes, and Theft and related crimes registered a decrease in 2015, compared to 2014. 6 “Norton Cybersecurity Insights Report.” Norton. <http://us.norton.com/cyber-security-insights>, as reported in Lim, Jessica. “Cybercrime victims here ‘lost $545 on average’.” The Straits Times. 25 Nov, 2015. <http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/cybercrime-victims-here-lost-545-on-average> 4 National Cybercrime Action Plan 5 OF 17