Singapore has taken a strong stance against online scammers. The government has ordered Apple and Google to block fake government messages sent through iMessage and Google Messages. The move aims to protect citizens who often trust messages that appear official.
According to the report, police found that criminals were using display names that mimicked “gov.sg” and other agencies. Because iMessage and SMS appear in the same message thread on iPhones, many users believed the messages were real. As a result, they became easy targets for fraud.
New Rules Under the Online Criminal Harms Act
The order falls under Singapore’s Online Criminal Harms Act. It requires Apple and Google to stop accounts and group chats from spoofing government names. The companies must either block those messages or filter them before they reach users.
Singapore already operates an SMS registry that controls the use of official government names. However, the system does not cover online messaging platforms. Scammers quickly took advantage of this gap.
Tech Companies Agree to Cooperate
Apple and Google confirmed that they will comply with the order. They also urged users to update their devices and apps to ensure stronger protection. Officials say that better security tools help, but public awareness remains key.
Scammers have become more creative. In one recent case, a criminal used real Apple alerts to convince a victim that a fake support call was genuine. The goal was to access the user’s Apple account remotely.
A Global Issue
Singapore is not alone in its concerns. In September, the European Union began examining whether major tech companies should do more to stop online fraud. Governments worldwide worry that scammers are adapting faster than security systems can keep up.
The new rules in Singapore signal increasing pressure on tech giants to protect users. For many, it may be an important step toward safer digital communication.
