Singapore partners in global exchange to combat online scams

A new partnership has been announced between the Global Signal Exchange and the Government Technology Agency of Singapore to exchange real-time scam signals and strengthen transnational efforts against online fraud.

GovTech Singapore has become the first government agency globally to join the Global Signal Exchange (GSE), which is supported by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and powered by Oxford Information Labs. This move is intended to demonstrate the agency's commitment to bolstering public-private cooperation internationally in the fight against internet scams.

The GSE brings together both public and private sector entities with the purpose of sharing abuse data and threat intelligence in real time. The platform tracks more than 380 million threat signals, providing accredited members – including companies such as Google, Meta and Microsoft – with the capability to pool intelligence. This system is aimed at enabling swift, coordinated actions to disrupt criminal activities online and reduce the profitability of scams.

As a result of this partnership, GovTech Singapore, working alongside the Singapore Police Force, will participate in data sharing with more than 30 other GSE members from across industries, specifically on scam-tainted websites. The partnership is intended to enhance collective capacity to detect and intervene in online scams.

GovTech Singapore and the Singapore Police Force previously developed the Scam Analytics and Tactical Intervention System (SATIS), which utilises artificial intelligence and machine learning to help prioritise, assess and disrupt scam websites. The system, integrating GovTech Singapore's in-house rMSE classifier, reviews hundreds of thousands of websites daily through a combination of automation and human review.

Leadership and collaboration

Emily Taylor, Chief Executive at the Global Signal Exchange, said, "GovTech Singapore's participation sets a leadership example for other governments around the world to follow. Their membership of the GSE will allow them to join a strong global coalition of both public and private sector organisations working against scams – and the opportunity to work with the world's leading tech giants. Turning the tables on the scammers is achievable but it involves businesses, governments and enforcement agencies worldwide to work much more closely together. Together we are stronger and together we can be the change that consumers and businesses need."

Mark Chen, Director of the Government Anti Scam Products team at GovTech Singapore, added, "Scams are increasingly borderless. By participating in GSE, GovTech Singapore can share intelligence with trusted partners and strengthen protection for our citizens, while contributing to the global fight against scam actors."

Jorij Abraham, Managing Director at the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, expressed support for this approach: "Scams are no longer isolated incidents, they are a systemic, cross-border threat. As a founding supporter of the Global Signal Exchange, we are delighted that GovTech Singapore has joined the GSE and the world of collaboration it enables on a global scale and in real-time. When governments get involved, we see a step-change that can turn the tide against online criminals. We hope other policymakers and law enforcement agencies around the world take note of GovTech Singapore's participation and follow suit. The Global Signal Exchange is changing the narrative on online crime, but we need everyone to join GSE and be part of the movement for change."

Regional scam impact

New data presented at the Global Anti-Scam Summit Asia shows that online scams have cost Southeast Asia a total of USD $23.6 billion in the previous 12 months. According to the findings, Singapore recorded the highest per capita loss among countries in the region at USD $2,132 per person. A recent survey of 6,000 people across Southeast Asia indicated that nearly 77% of adults had been exposed to a scam during the past year.

New resources for prevention

Google has announced a USD $5 million grant to increase the availability of scam prevention resources across the ASEAN region. This funding includes support for educational programmes such as the "Be Scams Ready" game, which helps consumers hone scam-spotting skills. The digital game will launch in Singapore in October, with plans to reach other Asia-Pacific markets in 2026.

The initiatives and partnerships laid out through GSE, industry stakeholders, and government agencies reflect a strategy of cross-border intelligence sharing and resource-building in response to what experts describe as a rapidly evolving and systemic threat.