Who To Notify About Messages, Calls From Unlicensed Moneylenders
16 Jul 2018
Forum reply on The Straits Times, 16 July 2018
We refer to Mr Anthony Ng Seet Boo’s letter “Do Not Call Registry does not appear to stop unsolicited messages, calls” (ST Forum online, 10 July 2018).
The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) remains committed to enforcing the DNC rules. Since they came into force in January 2014, 1 million Singapore telephone numbers have been registered with the DNC Registry. PDPC has also received and investigated some 14,450 DNC-related complaints against businesses, of which more than 4,800 resulted in the PDPC taking enforcement or other regulatory action. We have also seen improvement in public and business awareness of the DNC Registry in recent years. In our 2017 survey, PDPC found that 75% of industry respondents that conducted telemarketing were aware of the need to obtain individuals’ consent and check the DNC Registry before calling, faxing, or sending marketing material. In addition, we found that 91% of consumers surveyed felt that the DNC Registry enabled better control over the kinds of messages they received.
While PDPC will look into DNC-related complaints related to registered business entities, complaints from members of the public involving suspected unlicensed moneylending (UML) and illegal gambling are referred to the Police as these are serious criminal offences. As we have advised Mr Ng on multiple occasions, members of the public who receive calls, SMSes or Whatsapp messages from suspected unlicensed moneylenders or loansharks, or are aware of related activities, can notify the Police by submitting the information online via i-Witness at http://www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. The public can also call the National Crime Prevention Council’s ‘X Ah Long’ Hotline at 1800-924-5664 for advice on UML matters. Members of the public are urged not to reply or respond to these messages or phone calls and to block the numbers on the mobile device instead.
The PDPC will continue to work closely with stakeholders and the relevant authorities, such as the Singapore Police Force, to deter such activities.
Karen Low (Ms)
Director, Corporate Communications
Personal Data Protection Commission
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