Government SMSes will show 'gov.sg' as sender ID from July 1

Aim is to make it easier for public to identify authentic messages from the authorities

- Zhaki Abdullah

From July 1, virtually all SMSes sent by government agencies in Singapore will have a single sender ID, as part of efforts to make it easier for the public to identify authentic government text messages.

Such SMSes will show "gov.sg" as the sender ID instead of individual government agencies, such as "MOH" for the Ministry of Health or "Iras" for the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

Besides the gov.sg sender ID, every text message will begin with the full name of the agency that sent it and end with a note stating that it is an automated message sent by the Singapore Government, to indicate that recipients should not reply to it.

Over a two-week period beginning on June 18, government agencies will gradually begin to send messages using the gov.sg sender ID, with all messages displaying the new ID from July 1.

There are exceptions, though: Text messages from the Defence and Home Affairs ministries about national service matters and emergency services will have different sender IDs.

The initiative was developed by Open (OGP), an independent division of the Government Technology Agency that builds technology for the public good. The effort aims to safeguard people here against government official impersonation Government Products scams.