The authorities have managed to help clean up questionable business practices at the notorious Sim Lim Square, to the cheers of Singaporeans.

Is there something they can do to stop the equally notorious mobile content scams ("Customer left in the lurch over unauthorised 'subscription'" by Mr Tan Meng Meow; last Wednesday)?

Surely there need not be a video going viral before the authorities spring into action.

The three local telcos must not be let off the hook either. Just as the landlords of shops that perpetrate scams cannot claim that it is none of their business, Singtel, M1 and StarHub cannot argue that the matter is purely between the scammer and the scammed.

They must be held responsible for not doing enough to vet content providers beforehand, and must act against them after scams have been reported.

The least they could do is to remove such content providers from their platforms.

Scammers cannot be allowed free rein.

Singaporeans must speak up to let the authorities know that they want action.

Cheng Shoong Tat