On a November morning at GovTech's STACK Conference, a small app joined the long human effort to keep trust from being turned against people. Scams have always depended on a conversation that feels ordinary until it is too late, and AntiScam Pango tries to make that moment visible while it is still unfolding. Built by Singapore's Government Technology Agency with Google DeepMind, it watches messages on the phone itself and speaks up, but leaves the choice to the person holding it. In offering protection without taking the phone out of its owner's hands or sending private words elsewhere, it as
GovTech and Google DeepMind launch AntiScam Pango, an on-device app that flags suspicious messaging conversations
Protection from scams and private messages, without having to choose
Mark
So what does AntiScam Pango actually do that ScamShield didn't?
Mimi
ScamShield waits for you to submit a message, number or link. Pango reads conversations as they arrive on WhatsApp, Telegram and SMS and flags them on its own, including from numbers nobody has reported.
Luke
Worth saying that "flags suspicious conversations" is the claim here. The reporting gives no accuracy figures, no false-positive rate, nothing on how many scams it has caught.
Mark
And privacy? Reading all your messages sounds like the opposite of private.
Mimi
The analysis runs on the phone itself. GovTech says content only leaves the device if the user chooses to report it, and that neither it nor its partners can access private messages through the app.
Luke
That's GovTech's statement. The article doesn't mention any independent audit of it. It's a stated design, not a verified one.
Mark
What happens when it flags something?
Mimi
It explains the indicators that point to a scam, so you can learn to spot manipulation yourself. Then you choose: continue, report, or verify the sender independently. It won't block or delete anything.
Mark
Why Android only?
Mimi
Android lets apps request access to incoming notifications from messaging services. GovTech is exploring iOS, but it hasn't said how or when.
Luke
Same with the ScamShield integration. They're exploring it, and no timeline exists. That's an intention, not a plan.
O Pulso
- A scammer's message arrives looking harmless, and the window to stop being fooled may close within a single exchange.
- AntiScam Pango runs quietly in the background on Android, flagging suspicious WhatsApp, Telegram and SMS conversations as they unfold.
- Each warning lays out the scam indicators so users can see the manipulation tactic instead of just being told to stop.
- The app never blocks or deletes anything; users decide whether to continue, report, or verify the sender, and the beta remains Android-only with iOS and more platforms still under study.
On a November morning at GovTech's STACK Conference, a small app joined the long human effort to keep trust from being turned against people. Scams have always depended on a conversation that feels ordinary until it is too late, and AntiScam Pango tries to make that moment visible while it is still unfolding. Built by Singapore's Government Technology Agency with Google DeepMind, it watches messages on the phone itself and speaks up, but leaves the choice to the person holding it. In offering protection without taking the phone out of its owner's hands or sending private words elsewhere, it asks whether safety and privacy can be kept together.
On November 4, at GovTech's biennial STACK Conference 2026, Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau unveiled AntiScam Pango, an app built by the Government Technology Agency and Google DeepMind to catch scams while the conversation is still going on. Lau said it warns users in real time, before they act, and it can flag senders who have never been reported as risky, going beyond tools that rely on blacklists.
For now the beta is available to Android users through the Google Play Store. Once granted permissions, it runs in the background and, when it flags a conversation, explains the signs of social engineering, the tactic by which scammers win trust and steer victims toward risky actions. The decision remains with the user, and the app does not block or delete messages on its own.
Privacy was the point GovTech stressed most. Analysis happens on the phone, and message content is not sent to external servers unless the user chooses to report it. Mark Chen, GovTech's director of trust and safety, said the goal is to show people need not choose between protection and privacy. The model was trained on scam patterns aimed at people in Singapore, drawing on ScamShield data developed with the police and the National Crime Prevention Council.
ScamShield, which has recorded 1.61 million installations since August 2024, relies on users submitting suspicious items. AntiScam Pango works differently, assessing conversations proactively. The Android-only launch reflects an operating system constraint, and GovTech is exploring iOS and other messaging platforms while keeping on-device analysis. It is also considering folding the tool into ScamShield, though no timeline has been set.
On Nov 4, at GovTech's biennial STACK Conference 2026, Acting Minister for Manpower Jasmin Lau unveiled a new app meant to catch scams while the conversation is still going on. It is called AntiScam Pango, and it was built by the Government Technology Agency and Google DeepMind. Lau is also Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and the minister in charge of GovTech.
The app uses artificial intelligence to read incoming messages on WhatsApp, Telegram and SMS and flag conversations that look suspicious as they unfold. Lau said it warns users in real time, before they take further action. Its reach extends to numbers that have never been reported as risky, which is a step beyond tools that depend on a blacklist. The development of the on-device detection model was first announced in October, on the sidelines of the Singapore International Cyber Week.
For now, the beta is available to Android users through the Google Play Store. Once they grant the required permissions, the app runs in the background. When it flags a conversation, it lays out the indicators that suggest a scam. The aim is to help people recognise social engineering, the tactic by which scammers win trust and then steer victims into actions that put their money or personal information at risk. The decision stays with the user, who can continue the exchange, report it, or take precautions such as independently verifying the sender's identity. The app does not block or delete messages on its own.
Privacy is the point GovTech stressed most. The analysis happens on the phone, Lau said, so messages stay private. GovTech said message content is not sent to external servers unless the user chooses to report it, and that neither the agency nor its partners can reach users' personal information or private messages through the app. Mark Chen, GovTech's director of trust and safety, said the goal is to show that people need not choose between protection from scams and keeping their messages private. He said the collaboration with Google DeepMind is pushing the limits of what small AI models can do.
The model from Google DeepMind was trained on scam patterns and scenarios, so that it recognises the manipulation tactics and characteristics common in scams aimed at people in Singapore. Training data comes from ScamShield, which was developed by GovTech's Open Government Products unit together with the police and the National Crime Prevention Council. A further source is an in-house AI-powered classifier that evaluates suspicious web links.
ScamShield blocks calls from blacklisted numbers reported by users, and it uses AI to assess whether numbers, messages or links that users submit are likely tied to scams. Its enhanced app has recorded 1.61 million installations since August 2024. AntiScam Pango adds to that protection but works differently. ScamShield relies on users to submit items for checking, while Pango assesses conversations proactively as messages arrive on the supported platforms.
The Android-only launch comes down to a technical constraint: the operating system lets apps request access to incoming notifications from messaging services. GovTech said it is exploring ways to offer similar protection on other systems, including Apple's iOS, while keeping on-device analysis and the same privacy and security standards. It is also assessing other messaging platforms to extend coverage beyond WhatsApp, Telegram and SMS.
GovTech said it is looking at folding AntiScam Pango into ScamShield, but it has given no timeline. For now, the thing to watch is whether the beta expands beyond Android and beyond its three supported channels.
Citações Notáveis
The analysis happens on your phone itself, so your messages stay private.— Jasmin Lau, Acting Minister for Manpower
People do not have to choose between protection from scams and keeping their personal messages private.— Mark Chen, GovTech director of trust and safety
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Leia o original em The Straits Times ↗
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