ANTI-SCAM MEASURES
According to IMDA, Singapore receives about 1.6 billion worldwide calls each year, many of which are made by foreign con artists.
According to the power, the telcos blocked more than 300 million fraud calls between January and September of last year, or roughly one in every four billion calls from foreign numbers that were blocked during that time.
” IMDA and the telcos have gradually introduced measures to combat the threat posed by international scam calls.” This includes outright blocking of all calls from abroad that have an exceptionally high speed, as these are probably con calls made with automated systems, according to IMDA.
Additionally, all foreign incoming calls that had a 65 prefix added to them to make them appear to be from Singapore were discovered and blocked.
By the middle of 2024, company members will be able to stop calls and SMSes from foreign numbers on their mobile phones, according to the IMDA.
The call-blocking feature did “prevent the susceptible who may unintentionally answer an international call from a scammer and be tricked into it,” according to Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo in an interview with Taiwanese regular Lianhe Zaobao on December 18.
According to Mrs. Teo, who is also , Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity,” I find this feature helpful because I may finally install it for my kids ‘ mobile telephones.”
The government was urged by IMDA to remain vigilant as swindlers ‘ strategies change. There is no foolproof determine even as we continue to monitor and utilize additional protection, it said, adding that” Scammers may still change their practices and techniques.”
” IMDA will keep collaborating with other parties in the fight against scams.”