Singapore mobile subscribers can now block incoming calls from international numbers to tackle online scams. The government is working with all four mobile operators — M1, StarHub, Singtel, and Simba — to address the issue. Between January and September 2023, telcos blocked over 300 million scam calls, with 1.6 billion international calls received annually. The blocking feature, activated through the telco, can be applied to bar all international calls. The measure also includes the blocking of international calls with a “+65” prefix in the caller ID. An additional initiative tags SMS messages from unregistered Singapore businesses as “Likely-SCAM” to alert mobile users. The government announced similar messaging-related measures will be introduced by mid-2024. Phishing scammers in Singapore have caused a significant increase in reported cases, with a total of 33,669 cases in 2022. The government has laid out responsibilities for banks and telcos, holding them accountable for the first line of defense against phishing scams. Mobile users have been urged to remain vigilant against scammers, as the government continues to implement additional safeguards. Singtel announced that its Scam Call Protect service blocks 30 million scam calls and 20 million scam messages monthly, and other telcos also offer similar blocking services for free. Moreover, the new measures have led to a 97% decrease in international calls with spoofed “+65” prefix numbers, dropping from 700 million calls to 18 million in the same period.
Singapore Telcos Introduce New Anti-Scam Measure Allowing Subscribers to Block International Calls
