- Kyle Chua
ScamShield Now Available For Android Users in Singapore
After almost two years of seeing iPhone users enjoy ScamShield, Android users can now finally use it too.
ScamShield is an app that blocks calls from blacklisted numbers that are related to scams, and it is now available for download on the Google Play Store. The app was first launched on iOS and has been available on the platform since November 2020.
It was developed by the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) and Open Government Products, a division of the Government Technology Agency (GovTech). The NCPC is also the organisation responsible for managing the database of contacts that the app blacklists.
Apart from blocking calls, the app can also identify SMS texts that are malicious in nature. Any text that the app finds suspicious is sent to the NCPC and police for collation, which helps them keep the app updated and stay on top of emerging scams.
The iOS version, however, has one additional feature that's not available on the Android version. The former can divert messages that have been identified as scams to a junk folder, while the Android version only notifies the users of them. This feature was left out of the Android version due to specific limitations of the operating software.
As of 14 September, the iOS version of ScamShield has been downloaded by more than 315,000 users. That number has also resulted in more than 5.8 million SMS texts being reported and more than 29,000 phone numbers being blocked.
The app was initially supposed to launch by the end of 2021, putting it only about a year apart from its iOS counterpart, but development was delayed due to GovTech having to reprioritise resources towards supporting the Government's efforts to battle COVID-19.
The Android version can be downloaded on the Google Play Store.
ScamShield, an app that blocks calls from blacklisted numbers that are related to scams, is now available for download on the Google Play Store.
The app was first launched on iOS and has been available on the platform since November 2020.
Apart from blocking calls, the app can also identify SMS texts that are malicious in nature.