Singapore: Singapore has issued strict directives to tech giants Apple and Google, instructing them to implement urgent safeguards on their messaging platforms to prevent the misuse of government identities. The move comes as the city-state confronts a sharp rise in impersonation scams, particularly those posing as official “gov.sg” agencies on iMessage and Google Messages.
Under powers granted by the Online Criminal Harms Act, the Singapore Police Force formally ordered both companies to block, filter, or restrict any account or chat group attempting to replicate the names of government bodies. Officials said the directive was necessary because inboxes on these platforms can visually resemble SMS messages, making it easier for fraudsters to deceive users by mimicking verified government-run channels.
Authorities highlighted that iMessage and Google Messages currently do not support Singapore’s SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR) safeguards, which authenticate genuine government communications. This loophole, investigators warn, has been aggressively exploited in recent months. Scammers have repeatedly impersonated agencies such as SingPost, luring victims into fraudulent payment or data-harvesting schemes by adopting the “gov.sg” naming style.
The Ministry of Home Affairs revealed that impersonation scams have surged to alarming levels, with 1,762 cases recorded in the first half of 2025, nearly triple the figures from the previous year. Financial losses linked to such frauds have also escalated, reaching an estimated S$126.5 million. Officials say the new directives are essential to close the gaps exploited by cybercriminal syndicates.
As part of the new requirements, Apple and Google must ensure that profile names of unknown senders are hidden or displayed less prominently than phone numbers, reducing the likelihood of users being misled by spoofed identities. The companies are expected to complete the changes by November 30, a tight deadline underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Failure to comply without valid justification could expose the companies to penalties of up to S$1 million. Continued non-compliance may attract further fines of as much as S$100,000 per day, making this one of the strongest regulatory actions Singapore has taken against digital platforms in its fight against scams.
The government is also advising citizens to update their iMessage and Google Messages apps regularly to ensure the latest security measures are active. Authorities emphasize that these updates will significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to spoofed messages.
Singapore’s effort to clamp down on impersonation scams extends beyond Apple and Google. Earlier this year, the government also engaged Meta, pushing the company to deploy additional verification tools, including facial recognition systems, to prevent fake profiles posing as government representatives.
With digital fraud on the rise globally, Singapore’s approach marks a firm assertion of regulatory oversight aimed at protecting citizens in an increasingly complex digital landscape. The directives underline the government’s stance that major tech platforms must play a more active role in safeguarding users against sophisticated online threats.