Singapore to unify SMS Sender ID for government messages

The Singapore Government is set to introduce a single SMS Sender ID, gov.sg, to be used by all government agencies. The initiative, planned for full implementation by 1 July 2024, aims to streamline the identification of official government communications sent via SMS, moving away from the current practice where individual government agencies use separate Sender IDs.

This measure is expected to simplify the process for the public to identify legitimate government correspondence and mitigate the risk of impersonation scams. The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance public confidence and trust in government communications.

Deputy Secretary (Smart Nation Group) Sim Feng-Ji highlighted the importance of this move, stating, “This consolidated gov.sg SMS Sender ID is designed to give the public added confidence and ease of mind when it comes to identifying legitimate SMSes from government agencies. It exemplifies the Government's commitment in stamping out malicious attempts that undermine the public's trust in government communications.”

To safeguard the new gov.sg Sender ID from being spoofed, the Government has collaborated with SMS aggregators and all telecommunications service providers in Singapore, including their respective sub-brands. This partnership is geared towards ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the Government's SMS communications.

Due to the widespread adoption of mobile phones, SMS remains a vital communication tool for the Singapore Government. Annually, various government agencies send over 100 million SMSes to provide notifications about policy changes, transaction updates, and other important information.

The introduction of the single gov.sg Sender ID will be complemented by a public awareness campaign to educate citizens on identifying official government messages and remaining vigilant against scams. This change will be progressively rolled out starting from 18 June 2024. During this transition period, the public is urged to look out for the official gov.sg Sender ID and remain cautious of potential fraudulent communications.

Exceptions to the new gov.sg SMS Sender ID system include communications related to National Service matters and emergency services, which will retain separate Sender IDs.