{
  "id": 17517119,
  "title": "Police calls will soon come from a new 6000-0999 number to fight impersonation scams",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/police-calls-will-soon-come-from-a-new-6000-0999-number-to-fight",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/police-calls-will-soon-come-from-a-new-6000-0999-number-to-fight-impersonation-scams"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Starting on November 2, Singaporeans will receive police calls using a single, dedicated number: 6000-0999. This exclusive number ensures that only the police can make outbound calls, eliminating the confusion caused by impersonators using similar sounding numbers. The initiative aims to reduce scam incidents where fraudsters pose as police officers to steal money or sensitive data. Since January 2026, there have been over 3,230 cases of such scams, resulting in losses exceeding $142.5 million. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rudy Dzulkarnaen, deputy director of the police's Service Delivery Department, emphasized the importance of the dedicated number for public awareness. Should the police call go unanswered, the caller will receive an SMS containing the officer's name and contact details for further assistance. The 6000-0999 number is solely for outgoing calls and will not receive incoming calls. Scammers have been known to impersonate government agencies, particularly the police, to trick victims. To combat this, the government has implemented various safeguards, including blocking overseas calls that spoof Singapore numbers. These measures also extend to online messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram, requiring them to implement anti-spoofing measures. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in fines of up to $1 million. The authorities advise the public to report any suspicious calls to the ScamShield helpline or use the online services' reporting features. The government plans to introduce similar measures for other government agencies to enhance the recognizability and verifiability of official communications for the public.",
  "summary": "The police is the first agency to roll out a dedicated number to combat government official impersonation scams.",
  "key_points": [
    "Singaporeans will receive police calls from 6000-0999 starting November 2.",
    "Dedicated number aims to reduce impersonation scams causing $142.5 million in losses.",
    "Authorities advise reporting suspicious calls to ScamShield helpline."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Centralizing police outbound communications under one dedicated number creates a verifiable standard that strips scammers of their most effective tool for impersonating law enforcement officers.",
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/17517119.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Police to use single caller ID 6000 0999 from Nov 2 to combat impersonation scams",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/police-to-use-single-caller-id-6000-0999-from-nov-2-to-combat-17518924",
        "published": "2026-11-01T02:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}