Commentary: Singapore’s SIM card misuse law – a shield against scams or just more cat-and-mouse games?

Although it may seem like these systems are dereliction of duty, the reality is that moving away from stricter identification conflicts with company goals. The desire to obtain new users and market advertising aligns them with the majority of ordinary users, who are both happy for few identity checks to simplify things.

CAT AND MOUSE GAME WITH Swindlers

Can the same be said about schemes on our favorite e-commerce sites? Thankfully, it has become a standard practice to verify seller accounts using phone numbers linked to our identities. But sadly, as with the range of safety steps companies can implement to protect consumers, various sites mean different standards.

The E-commerce marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings initiative from the Ministry of Home Affairs essentially names and criticizes major sites that do n’t pass muster. However, it only offers suggestions on what to watch out for and does not have the teeth needed to require change. Consumers can continue to buy where they want, despite the lack of fundamental protections, as a result.

What becomes clear is that focusing solely on middlemen in the supply chain of scams will have little impact without taking the identification matter more seriously.

The ownership of a SIM card is just one of the numerous investigations that scammers use to get a direct line to potential patients. As one lock opens, another may pop open due to the constantly evolving character of scams and their preferred channels.

Stemming the source of illegal local figures is most likely to entice scammers to websites that demand the least amount of background checks. And the fight continues.