The Government of Singapore has re-launched an enhanced ScamShield app to protect the community from an increasingly complex scam landscape. The app offers advanced features for checking, filtering, and blocking scam messages and calls, along with scam reporting. It now covers WhatsApp, Telegram, and websites, adding an extra layer of protection beyond its initial focus on calls and SMS.
Originally launched on November 20, 2020, ScamShield was developed by Open Government Products in collaboration with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC). Since then, the app has been downloaded over 950,000 times and has blocked more than 178,000 scam-related entities.
In the first half of 2024, 8,336 scam cases were reported, with losses amounting to $113.5 million. WhatsApp alone accounted for 4,186 cases, totaling $74.8 million in losses, while Telegram saw 3,755 cases with $28.2 million in losses. The enhanced ScamShield app comes at a critical time to combat these rising threats.
Minister of State Sun Xueling emphasized that the app is part of Singapore’s continued effort to protect its residents, noting the importance of staying ahead of evolving scam tactics. David Chew, Director of the Commercial Affairs Department, highlighted the community’s role in fighting scams through crowdsourced data. NCPC Chairman Gerald Singham encouraged all residents to download the app, reinforcing that scam prevention is a collective responsibility.
The updated ScamShield app is available on iOS and Android. More details can be found at its official website.