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Easier to check, report and recall: How the new ScamShield Suite can help you outsmart scammers
A 24/7 helpline and AI-powered enhancements to the ScamShield mobile app are among its key features
The ScamShield app has been enhanced with features such as scam message and call checks, AI-powered call blocking and SMS filtering, and scam reporting across WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS, calls and other channels.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Jeremy Theseira, Brand Newsroom
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Regular online shopper Jonathan Cheow, 33, frequently receives WhatsApp messages from unknown numbers.
“When I’m expecting a parcel, I’d usually receive updates from a business or delivery person,” says the interior designer. “If the shipping or order number is included in the message, I wouldn’t be too concerned.”
But that isn’t always the case. Mr Cheow occasionally receives messages claiming that his address needs to be updated, or additional payment is required, to deliver his item.
The ruse, known as delivery parcel scams, typically includes a phishing link sent via text messages or emails to trick victims into providing their personal and banking credentials. Scammers would then use these details to make unauthorised transactions.
“If I made a purchase recently, I might think it’s real, especially if it came from a local phone number,” says Mr Cheow. “But I can’t know for sure.”
More ways to act
Where can Mr Cheow turn to when he’s unsure about a potential scam? Enter: ScamShield’s new helpline and enhanced app capabilities, which offer greater certainty.
These are among the four key components of the ScamShield Suite, launched by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in partnership with the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and Open Government Products (OGP) on Friday. It aims to make scam-related information and resources more accessible to the public.
The suite consolidates several anti-scam resources under one brand, making it easier for the public to recall and adopt them, says Mr Jeffery Chin, deputy director of the Scam Public Education Office Operations Department, SPF.
The shortened helpline (1799) operates 24/7, offering the public an easy option to check with whenever they are unsure if a situation they are facing is a scam, says Mr Chin.
The latest version of the ScamShield app includes a scam-checking tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help users identify potential scams.
Users can submit suspicious phone numbers, messages or links for verification on the app, which then provides users with information on whether these are likely linked to scams.
The feature is among enhancements introduced to “provide the public with a better way to safeguard themselves in a fast-evolving scam landscape”, says Ms Reshma Vasu, senior product manager, OGP.
You can also report scam encounters via the app, alerting authorities to review suspicious numbers and block them.
By doing so, users can help themselves and others to receive less scam calls and messages, she adds.
Reporting suspicious numbers will also help to expand ScamShield’s blocklist, and train its AI on emerging scams.
First launched in 2020, the ScamShield app was developed by OGP in collaboration with SPF and NCPC. It has over a million downloads, and has blocked more than 178,000 entities linked to scam calls or SMSes, say the police.
Be proactive to protect
- Unsure if the SMS is from the Government? Since July 1, all SMSes sent from government agencies show “gov.sg” as the sender ID. Look out for these four key indicators.
- Stop receiving unsolicited messages: Over 8,300 scam cases in the first half of 2024 involved scammers contacting victims via messaging platforms. Here are some ways to protect your chats from scam threats.
- Good cyber hygiene routine: Want to keep the dirty tricks of scammers at bay? Here are four ways to better protect your data and money.
Easier to keep up
As part of the ScamShield Suite, a new website (ScamShield.gov.sg) will serve as a one-stop resource portal for scams.
It includes advisories on the latest scam trends, steps to take when faced with a scam, and protective actions individuals can adopt to enhance scam resilience.
Along with new ScamShield Alert channels on WhatsApp and Telegram, Mr Chin says these platforms “allow you to keep up with the latest scam trends and information to keep yourself safe.”
This is part of a series titled “Act against scams”, in partnership with the Singapore Police Force.
