Singapore Police to Use Single Pre-fixed Number and Mandate WhatsApp Safeguards to Combat Surge in Impersonation Scams

Singapore introduces a single police caller ID prefix and mandates WhatsApp anti-spoofing rules. Plus, new hair test laws for drug enforcement in 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 27, 2026, 6:12 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from CNA

Standardizing Official Communications

In a major push to help the public distinguish legitimate officials from fraudsters, all outgoing calls from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) will soon originate from a single, easily recognizable pre-fixed number. Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming announced the measure on Friday, noting that the SPF is collaborating with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Open Government Products (OGP) on the rollout. This initiative aims to address a critical security gap: government official impersonation scams doubled in 2025, recording the highest average financial loss per case at over S$72,000.

WhatsApp and Digital Spoofing Safeguards

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is also extending its regulatory reach to messaging platforms. WhatsApp will soon be required to implement anti-spoofing measures similar to those recently mandated for Apple and Google. These safeguards will prevent unauthorized accounts from using "gov.sg" or other official agency names and include filters to block or flag messages from suspected impersonators.

Authorities emphasized that the public should remain skeptical of any unknown caller claiming to be a police officer, especially if the call does not bear the new official prefix. Real government officials will never ask for bank credentials or request money transfers over the phone.

Strengthening Anti-Drug Enforcement