The Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR) has made its strides in fighting unsolicited and fraudulent SMS messages. Operated by the Singapore Network Information Centre (SGNIC), a subsidiary of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), all organizations using SMS with a sender identification (“Sender ID”) are now required to register their Sender IDs with the SSIR effective 31st of January.
Basically, if an organization hasn’t registered with the SSIR, their SMS messages will be marked as “Likely-SCAM.” This is a big deal for businesses that use SMS as a communication tool. So, in this article, we’ll help guide you how to avoid messages being flagged as fraudulent and introduce some alternative communication methods to consider. Let’s dive into it!
LIKELY-SCAM – What Is It?
If you receive text messages from businesses that aren’t registered with SSIR, they might be marked as “Likely-SCAM” on your phone. Don’t worry though, these messages might come from completely legitimate businesses who just haven’t completed their registration yet. But this can also be confusing, especially if your customers receive messages such as parcel tracking updates and reward links all labeled as “Likely-SCAM”.
How the “Likely-SCAM” Label Affects Business Operations
We know that businesses use SMS for a variety of key functions, however, the launch of the SSIR also revealed that many companies were not able to register in time and experienced interruptions. For instance, delivery SMS was often sent to customers but not visible, creating confusion as to whether their parcels had even been shipped in the first place. Another example; booking confirmations would sometimes show up as “Likely-SCAM” and cause users to be unsure of their bookings. After double-checking via the app or website and confirming the booking, customers felt reassured. But, this creates lots of confusion and distrust, which every business should avoid in the first place.
The Way Forward
If you’re a business in Singapore that uses SMSes to communicate with customers, registering with SSIR can save you a lot of hassle. Registration is a quick, straightforward process— you can register here by following these steps:
Now that you’ve register your business with SSIR, there are other things you should consider to boost your customer trust and safety.
It is more important than ever for businesses to be proactive and look beyond SMS regulations, particularly given that scammers have shifted their approach to online messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram. This calls for businesses to take ownership of the channel they use for customer communication, to ensure customer trust and safety. In-app communication is an excellent solution that can help build confidence; a good example relates to companies who had their own app that included transaction details and other vital information that could be accessed by customers– giving them a sense of reassurance. The key takeaway from this is that owning the in-app channel provides both trust and peace of mind for your customers.
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Shield your Business from Potential SMS Scams
In conclusion, companies may experience a wide range of significant consequences if they are labeled “Likely SCAM” under SSIR, such as reputational damage and loss of income. Therefore, businesses must be proactive in adhering to all local regulations and laws. This includes registering for SSIR and promptly resolving any issues before the situation becomes worse. The regulator has highlighted this potential risk, so businesses should be aware of the potential implications.
So why not take a small but important step by registering with SSIR? Not only will it help prevent scams down the line, but it’s also a great way to show your customers you’re serious about their satisfaction. And as technology continues to evolve, scammers will too, which is why it’s important to stay on top of the latest regulations for the best possible business experience. Let’s keep our customers safe and happy together!
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