Singapore Orders Apple, Google to Curb Messaging Scams

Singapore's police force has ordered Apple and Google to implement safeguards on their messaging platforms to block scammers from impersonating government agencies, addressing a rise in fraud attempts that exploit the similarity between app-based texts and official messages.

The directives, issued under the Online Criminal Harms Act, require the companies to prevent the display of spoofed names such as "gov.sg" or those of other government entities in accounts and group chats on iMessage and Google Messages. Additionally, profile names from unknown senders must be hidden or shown less prominently than phone numbers to alert users to potential risks. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the orders on November 25, with compliance expected by November 30, 2025. Both Apple and Google have committed to fulfilling these requirements, and authorities are urging the public to update their mobile apps to access the latest protections.

The move targets scams observed on these platforms, where fraudsters pose as entities like SingPost, the local postal service. These deceptive messages often claim undelivered parcels require payment of fees, prompting victims to click malicious links...