Why is Singapore worried about the increase in ‘sham marriages’ to foreign women?

Singapore is grappling with an increase in sham marriages, where Singaporean men marry foreign women in exchange for financial compensation, enabling them to secure residence or work permits. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) reported 32 such cases from January to September 2024, compared to just four cases the previous year. Authorities are ramping up efforts to tackle these illegal unions, which pose social risks, and are urging the public to report suspicious activity.