‘Scam vaccines’ built by GovTech unit aims to help Singaporeans fight the real threat
The aim is to close the gap between the detection of a new scam and public awareness of it.
The Singapore government is launching a digital "Scam Vaccine" to help residents defend against increasingly sophisticated scam tactics. Developed by the digital agency GovTech's Open Government Products (OGP), the vaccine uses realistic artificial intelligence simulations to expose users to simulated scam calls and messages over phone and WhatsApp.
Participants will experience live, unscripted scam attempts in a controlled, safe environment. The program aims to build familiarity with various scam types, including government official impersonation, e-commerce, investment, and love scams, before encountering real threats. Over 700 Singaporeans have shown interest as of September 20, submitting their name, mobile number, and age range to participate.
Scam Vaccine detects new scam variants through public reports submitted to ScamShield, a database maintained by OGP in collaboration with the police, Ministry of Home Affairs, and National Crime Prevention Council. The AI-powered simulations dynamically respond to user input while staying true to the scam scenario. Built-in safety measures prevent any financial loss, malware installation, or data leaks.
Participants receive a personalized debrief after each simulation, highlighting red flags and future warning signs. However, there are concerns that the program might create a false sense of confidence or confuse real scams with drills, especially for elderly users.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
