SMS communications from Singapore Government agencies will use a single SMS identifier, gov.sg, from 1 July 2024 onwards.
The Singapore Government has announced a new single SMS identifier for all SMS communications used by all government agencies.
Starting from 1 July 2024, members of the public can expect all SMS communications from government agencies to bear a single “gov.sg” SMS sender ID. Previously, each government agency used individual sender IDs unique to their board (e.g. LTA, IRAS, CPF, HDB, ICA, and more).
In an official statement to the press, the Singapore Government said that using a single SMS Sender ID would “make it easier for the public to identify authentic government communications sent by SMSes, and safeguard themselves against government official impersonation scams”.
Example of SMSes that will be sent from the gov.sg Sender ID. Note how multiple govt agencies are streamlined into a single SMS chain.
The official statement emphasised that SMS remains a crucial platform for government communications to the Singaporean public, due to “widespread adoption of mobile phones”.
To prevent spoofing (malicious masquerading) of the gov.sg SMS handle, the Singapore Government has partnered with SMS aggregators, all telco service providers, and their sub-brands that operate in Singapore.
The rollout of this single SMS ID starts on 18 June 2024, completing by 1 July 2024.
Are there exceptions? Which agencies won't use the single “gov.sg” identifier?
According to gov.sg, the following government agencies and services will not fall under the “gov.sg” single SMS sender ID, even after 1 July 2024. They will continue to use their own SMS identifiers.
- Singapore Police Force (retains 71000 number, two-way SMS)
- Ministry of Defence (a.k.a. MINDEF, retains 72255 number, two-way SMS)
- Ministry of Home Affairs (retains 71999 and 70995 numbers, two-way SMS)
- MHAalert identifier for public emergencies
- MHA NS identifier, for NSMen reminders system to acknowledge ICT reservist call-ups and IPPT/NSFIT training sessions
- Singapore Police Force NS call-ups (retains 83395761 number, two-way SMS)
- Singapore Civil Defence Force NS call-ups (retains 91449746 number, two-way SMS)
- POLICE 999 for callers who consent to receive emergency video system link for live footage of incidences during emergency calls
- SCDF 995 for the SCDF equivalent of POLICE 999 (formerly SCDF995 before 1 July 2024)
Public service announcement poster by gov.sg about using a unified SMS identifier.
To understand more about this change, you can head to sms.gov.sg and learn more.
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