Plan to Combat Scam Callers Spoofing Local Handphone Numbers without "+65" Prefix
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the inquiry by Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye regarding scammers using local numbers without the "+65" prefix and the Ministry’s strategies to address this. Minister for Communications and Information Mrs Josephine Teo explained that while telcos block spoofed numbers, scammers now use actual local SIM cards obtained illicitly to reach victims. To combat this, the Law Enforcement and Other Matters Bill was passed in April 2024 to criminalize the irresponsible registration of SIM cards with fines or imprisonment. Additionally, the Infocomm Media Development Authority has capped postpaid SIM card registrations at 10 per subscriber to prevent bulk acquisitions by syndicates. These multi-pronged efforts aim to strengthen telecommunications safeguards and close off avenues for criminal syndicates to reach prospective victims.
Transcript
46 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) whether the Ministry has received feedback that scam callers are now able to spoof local handphone numbers that do not have the "+65" prefix; and (b) what is the Ministry's plan to combat this beyond public education efforts.
Mrs Josephine Teo: Since 2019, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has been working with telecommunication companies (telcos) to strengthen our safeguards against calls from spoofed local numbers. Today, any local or international calls that spoof local numbers will be blocked by telcos.
With these measures in place, scammers have quickly changed their tactics. Some scammers buy local SIM cards through illicit means and use them to make calls from our local networks. Such calls will show up on the victims' phone as a local number and without the "+65" prefix. These are not spoofed calls. They come from the local SIM cards used to make scam calls.
We have taken steps to strengthen deterrence against the use of local SIM cards for crime and to ensure accountability for the use of SIM cards. On 2 April 2024, the Law Enforcement and Other Matters Bill was passed in Parliament. This will make it an offence for individuals to allow the irresponsible registration and misuse of local SIM cards to facilitate scams. These new offences will carry a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
IMDA has also tightened the registration of SIM cards and started imposing limits on the number of postpaid SIM cards per subscriber. For instance, since mid-April 2024, each subscriber is only allowed to sign up for a maximum of 10 postpaid SIM cards. This strikes a balance between stopping illegitimate purchases in bulk and bona fide uses, such as multiple subscriptions for family members. Collectively, these new measures aim to make it more difficult for criminal syndicates to operate in Singapore and help deter abuse of our telecommunications channels.
These measures are part of our multi-pronged efforts to fight scams. We will continue to monitor the landscape, act on emerging trends and close off known avenues for scammers to reach prospective victims. This includes tightening our measures further, where necessary.