The ScamShield app only filters SMSes at a cellular level that are identified as scam by the algorithm and/or the sender is reviewed and blocked by authorities after they have deemed the sender to be suspicious. If the sender is a legitimate business entity registered with IMDA SSIR or a saved contact, it will automatically be considered safe.

• When a ScamShield user receives a new scam variant via SMS, they can report the sender using the Submit a Scam Report feature. Usually, this happens when the ScamShield algorithm does not identify the SMS as suspicious.

  
  

• When the report for this new scam variant SMS is received, it will be reviewed and subsequently marked as scam by authorities. It may also take authorities some time to review scam reports based on the volume of such reports and trending scam types.

  
  

• This information will then be used to update the ScamShield algorithm and identify similar messages as scam. The sender will also be marked as scam and any related phone number will also be subsequently blocked.

  
  

• After submitting the scam report, you may check the message (i.e. if it has been blocked or marked as scam) by using our Check for Scams feature ("A message you received").  

  
  

Scam messages on WhatsApp and third-party apps

• Do note that the ScamShield app cannot block messages on platforms such as WhatsApp due to privacy limitations because of encryption.

  
  

• In this case, we encourage you to report such scam messages anyway so that the senders may be reviewed by authorities and blocked from messaging users on a cellular level.

  
  

• By reporting, you are keeping yourself and the rest of the ScamShield community safe from such scams. 

  
  

• After submitting the scam call report, you may check the status of the message (i.e. if it has been marked as scam) by using our Check for Scams feature ("A message you received").