Identity-verification Requirements for Level "3" Telephone Numbers Linked to Recent Government Officials Impersonation Scams
Ministry of Digital Development and InformationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns identity-verification and traceability requirements for series "3" telephone numbers linked to government official impersonation scams. Dr Hamid Razak asked about current verification rules when assigning these numbers and whether suspension procedures will be reviewed. Minister Mrs Josephine Teo stated that telecommunication operators must record and verify all subscriber particulars at registration to aid law enforcement. She noted that the Singapore Police Force requires operators to suspend numbers suspected or found to be used in scams. Furthermore, the Infocomm Media Development Authority is reviewing registration, authentication, and allocation conditions for series "3" numbers to address evolving scam tactics without hindering legitimate businesses.
Transcript
21 Dr Hamid Razak asked the Minister for Digital Development and Information in light of recent Government Officials Impersonation Scams involving calls from eight-digit numbers beginning with "3" (a) what identity-verification and traceability requirements apply when service providers assign Level "3" telephone numbers to customers; and (b) whether these requirements and procedures for suspending numbers linked to scams will be reviewed.
Mrs Josephine Teo: The Government takes a serious view of scams, including Government Officials Impersonation Scams that misuse Singapore telephone numbers to deceive victims. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) works closely with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the telecommunication operators to detect and disrupt misused Singapore telephone numbers.
Today, all telecommunication operators that provide voice services are required to record and verify the particulars of subscribers, including corporate subscribers, at the point of registration. These requirements, which support law enforcement agencies' investigation and enforcement efforts, apply to the provision of voice services using all Singapore telephone numbers, including series "3" numbers.
Where series "3" numbers are suspected or found to be used for scams, SPF requires telecommunication operators to suspend these numbers.
The Government will continue to update our anti-scam measures and safeguards, including possible enhancements to the telephony ecosystem. For series "3" numbers, IMDA is reviewing registration and authentication requirements as well as the conditions for number allocation. This is to ensure that the measures remain effective against evolving scam tactics, while considering the impact on legitimate businesses and companies that use series "3" numbers for business operations.