Was it really the police? Calls from SPF now come from one number

All police calls to the public now originate from a single number, 6000 0999, to help individuals differentiate genuine officers from impostors. A 67-year-old senior operations supervisor for the Singapore Police Force (SPF), who wished to remain anonymous, recounted an April 2026 incident where a caller claimed to be an SPF officer and threatened his bank account details, which he believed had been compromised in an overseas money laundering investigation.

His initial suspicion arose from trips to India and Malaysia in late 2025. Upon recognizing the caller's foreign-sounding accent, he hung up. Despite lingering doubts, he understood that if genuine officers were calling, they would reach out via alternative means. Effective from November 2, 2026, the SPF will exclusively use 6000 0999 for outgoing calls, followed by an SMS via the "gov.sg" sender ID.

This initiative aims to distinguish real officials from impersonators. SPF is the first government agency to employ this strategy, with other agencies expected to adopt it progressively. The single caller ID is a collaborative effort between the SPF, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, the Government Technology Agency of Singapore, and the Infocomm Media Development Authority.

Measures are in place to curb call spoofing, including blocking overseas calls that mimic the police's number and preventing the unauthorized use of 6000 0999 and the "gov.sg" sender ID on messaging platforms. Despite these safeguards, scammers continue to employ various tactics to build credibility and pressure victims, such as posing as staff from other companies, presenting arrest warrants, or demanding monetary payments.

The public is urged to end calls when unsure and verify suspicious communications through official channels.