How to Avoid “Likely-SCAM” for OTP SMS in Singapore Without a Local Entity

If you have ever tried sending OTP SMS messages to users in Singapore from outside the country, you may have already seen the problem. Your OTP arrives on the user’s phone, but instead of showing your Sender ID or a clean header, the message appears with a warning label that says “Likely-SCAM”.

The moment a user sees that, two things usually happen:

• They hesitate.
• Or they do not trust the message at all.

Either way, you lose the sign up, the login, or the transaction. It is painful because the user did nothing wrong and your system did nothing wrong. It is simply how Singapore filters foreign traffic.

Here is the twist: Most brands do not even know this is happening because customers rarely complain. They simply abandon the flow and move on. If you are trying to onboard users in Singapore, this is a real business problem.

The good news is that this problem has a simple fix. Let me walk you through exactly how Singapore filters OTP SMS traffic, why your messages get marked as Likely-SCAM, and how you can avoid this completely without opening a local entity or waiting for sender approvals.

Why Singapore Marks Your OTP SMS as “Likely-SCAM”

Singapore has some of the strongest fraud prevention rules in all of Asia. Telecom operators here take spam and phishing very seriously, so they automatically filter or flag traffic that does not meet local requirements.

Here is why your OTPs are being tagged as Likely-SCAM:

• You do not have a local entity (UEN): If your business does not have a UEN which is the unique business registration number in Singapore, you are not allowed to register a Sender ID.
• Unregistered Sender IDs are not trusted: When you send OTPs with a non approved Sender ID, the carriers replace it with the label Likely-SCAM to warn users.
• Singapore blocks unknown IDs by default: The rule is simple. If the brand name is not known to the Singapore system, it is automatically not trusted.
• OTP traffic is highly monitored: Carriers apply extra filtering for OTP and 2FA messages because these messages are a common target for fraud.

This means there is no workaround and no clever hack. If you do not have a local presence in Singapore, your sender ID will not be accepted, and you will be flagged as Likely-SCAM every single time.

Unless you use a shared sender that is already approved.

Why This Problem Hurts Brands Outside Singapore

Let us look at this problem from a business perspective.
Imagine you are onboarding a new customer and the OTP they receive is marked as Likely-SCAM. How many people do you think will trust that message?

Almost none.

Here is what this leads to:

• A drop in OTP success rates: Users simply ignore the message.
• A spike in abandoned sign ups: Customers feel unsafe and exit the flow.
• Lower login completion: Returning users cannot log in if they do not trust the OTP message.
• More customer support tickets: Your team gets more complaints like  “I did not get the OTP”
  or “I do not trust this SMS”
• Brand trust takes a hit: Even if the user finally verifies, their first impression of your brand is already damaged.

A lesser known fact that most marketers miss: Singapore users often block numbers with the Likely-SCAM label. This affects future messages too.

When you add up these small issues, they create real loss. Lower conversions. Lower retention. Higher support costs. Slower growth in Singapore.

But here is the good news: you do not need to open a company in Singapore to fix this.

The Simple Fix: Use a Shared Sender ID That Is Already Approved

This is where Message Central helps you bypass the entire problem.

Message Central already has a registered entity in Singapore. This allows the platform to use approved Shared Sender IDs that are fully trusted by Singapore operators.

When you send OTPs using Message Central, your messages travel through these pre approved sender IDs. The result is simple.

No Likely-SCAM tag. No filtering. No restrictions. And no legal setup required.

You can start sending OTPs instantly and your users will receive them as a normal trusted SMS.

Here is why this works so well:

• No UEN required from your side: You do not need to create a Singapore entity.
• No sender registration required: You do not have to wait for weeks or months.
• Instant delivery with approved sender IDs: Your OTP messages appear clean and trustworthy.
• 100 percent legal and fully compliant: Everything follows Singapore telecom rules.
• Works for all industries: Fintech, Ecommerce, Edtech, Gaming, SaaS, Logistics, Travel or anything else.

This is the fastest and most reliable way to send OTP SMS in Singapore without the Likely-SCAM label.

How You Can Start Sending OTPs in Singapore Without a Local Entity

Here is the best part: you can start sending OTPs in Singapore in less than fifteen minutes. Yes, even if you are based in another country.

Here is what the flow looks like:

Step 1. Sign up on Message Central
You get instant access.

Step 2. Use your free test credits
You can test OTP delivery to Singapore numbers before going live.

Step 3. Integrate the VerifyNow OTP API
The API is developer friendly and takes only a few minutes to set up.

Step 4. Start verifying users instantly
Your OTPs will use a shared sender ID that is already trusted by operators in Singapore.

No waiting. No compliance delays. And no special documentation required. You get clean, fast, and reliable OTP delivery right away.

Why VerifyNow Achieves the Highest OTP Delivery in Singapore

Message Central’s VerifyNow OTP API is built to handle one thing really well: Fast and consistent OTP delivery on a global scale.

Here is what makes it special in Singapore:

• Direct operator connections: No unreliable third party hopping.
• Smart routing: Messages take the best route in real time to reduce delays.
• Local failover: If one path is slow, the system automatically switches to the next best route.
• Singapore approved shared sender IDs: This is the most important part because it eliminates the Likely-SCAM problem.
• WhatsApp fallback option: If SMS delivery fails due to network issues, the system automatically sends the OTP on WhatsApp.
• 190 plus countries supported: Great for regional or global expansion.
• Transparent countrywise pricing: No hidden fees. No weird surcharges.

This is why many global brands see OTP latency go down to 1 to 3 seconds when they switch to VerifyNow. See how we compare to Twilio!

Singapore Specific Best Practices for OTP SMS

Here are simple but powerful tips to get the best results:

• Keep the content short: Singapore carriers prefer clean and concise OTP messages.
• Avoid URLs inside OTP SMS: This can sometimes trigger extra filters.
• Use plain text content: No special symbols or emojis.
• Enable WhatsApp fallback: Singapore has strong mobile internet usage. OTP Fallback on WhatsApp works well for users who do not receive SMS.
• Test OTP delivery regularly: Singapore operators update their spam controls often.
  With Message Central, you can test anytime using free credits.

A Simple Real Example

A digital banking startup in the Middle East wanted to onboard users in Singapore. Their OTPs were arriving with the Likely-SCAM label which caused a huge drop in activation rates. They were losing almost forty percent of new users in Singapore.

After switching to Message Central’s shared sender ID:

• OTP delivery success went up to 98 percent
• OTP delivery time dropped to under three seconds
• User onboarding became friction free
• No local entity required
• No sender ID registration needed

And they went live within a single day.

Pricing and Coverage Transparency

Message Central supports OTP delivery in more than 190 countries including Singapore. You can check countrywise pricing any time on the website.

You do not pay for compliance approvals. You do not pay for sender registrations. You only pay for the OTPs you send.

That makes it simple and predictable.

Conclusion: Avoid Likely-SCAM and Go Live in Minutes

If you want to send OTP SMS to your customers in Singapore but you do not have a local entity, do not wait months for a complicated process.

There is an easier way.

Use Message Central’s trusted shared sender ID and send OTPs instantly with no Likely-SCAM tag. It is fast, clean, compliant and designed for global brands that need to verify Singapore users right now.

You can sign up today, get free test credits, try the OTP API, and go live in less than fifteen minutes.

Your customers in Singapore deserve a smooth and safe verification experience. And your brand deserves conversions without friction.

Try VerifyNow today and see the difference for yourself.

FAQs

Q1. How do I stop my OTP SMS from showing as “Likely-SCAM” in Singapore?

You can avoid the Likely-SCAM label by using an approved shared sender ID that is already registered with Singapore carriers. Message Central provides pre approved Sender IDs through its VerifyNow API, which means your OTPs appear clean and trusted even if you do not have a local entity.

Q2. Can I send OTP SMS in Singapore without a local entity or UEN?

Yes, you can send OTPs in Singapore without a local entity by using Message Central’s shared sender ID. Since Message Central already has a registered Singapore entity and approved IDs, you do not need to register a UEN or wait for sender approval.

Q3. What is the fastest way to send OTP SMS in Singapore without getting flagged as spam?

The fastest way is to use the VerifyNow OTP API, which sends OTPs through pre verified sender IDs and trusted local routes. You can sign up, use free test credits, and start sending OTPs in minutes without paperwork or approval delays.