Non-IMDA-registered SMSes to be labelled 'likely scams' starting 31 January
Stronger action announced as part of the authority's stance against scam calls and SMSes
SINGAPORE — From 31 January, SMS messages sent by organisations not registered with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) registry will be labelled as "likely scams".
In a media release on Wednesday (25 January), IMDA announced that all organisations using alphanumeric sender IDs must register with the Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR).
"This registration is to better protect consumers against non-registered SMS that may be scams," it said.
As the system functions similarly to a spam bin, consumers receiving SMSes labelled as "likely scam" should exercise caution. If unsure, the consumer is encouraged to ask a family member or friend for assistance.
IMDA said that all organisations that use alphanumeric sender IDs, which often contain brand names and may contain both letters and numbers, should register early with SSIR.
Organisations from Singapore Business Federation, Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, and Association of Banks in Singapore are among those IMDA has approached to encourage them to join the registry.
Registration with the SSIR can be done by contacting smsregistry@sgnic.sg or the Singapore Network Information Centre.
SSIR regime would aid in the fight against scams
IMDA added that this new mandatory SSIR regime is part of its ongoing multi-layered approach to reduce scam calls and SMSes using telecom operators' communication networks.
Singapore saw a 64 per cent reduction in SMS scams between the last quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of 2022, after the SSIR was formed in March last year.
According to the authority, around 8 per cent of scam reports in the second quarter of 2022 were perpetrated through SMS, down from 10 per cent in the same quarter of 2021.
Over 1,200 organisations have already signed up since registration started in October last year, with over 2,600 SMS Sender IDs registered.
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