As part of Singapore's continuing effort to curb phone scams made thru overseas phone calls that are disguised as a local call from Singapore, e.g. numbers displaying 999, 995, etc but actually are made through VOIP or complex web servers, from 14 April 2020 onwards, all incoming international calls will be prefixed with a plus sign (+) as part of efforts to protect members of the public from scam calls.
From 15 Apr 2020, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) will require all telecommunication companies (telcos) in Singapore to introduce this measure to help combat such spoof calls from overseas. Domestic calls will not display such a prefix.
According to the Singapore Police Force’s annual crime brief for 2019, more than S$21 million was reported lost to impersonation scams.
International scammers are known to impersonate local phone numbers. Therefore, after 15 April 2020, all overseas calls coming in will be identified and identifiable by having the plus prefix.
The government believes this will help consumers better identify international spoof calls and reject them. The Government will continue to develop additional measures to combat scams so that Singaporeans can be better protected against such unscrupulous scammers. - CNA source
International scammers are known to impersonate local phone numbers. Therefore, after 15 April 2020, all overseas calls coming in will be identified and identifiable by having the plus prefix.
The government believes this will help consumers better identify international spoof calls and reject them. The Government will continue to develop additional measures to combat scams so that Singaporeans can be better protected against such unscrupulous scammers. - CNA source