Aussies to be protected from dodgy texts with new tool to crack down on scammers

Telcos will soon be required to verify messages sent from brands under a new initiative launched by the Australian government to crack down on scammers.

Under the initiative, a national SMS sender ID register will be established, requiring text messages sent from trusted brands like CommBank, Linkt, or MyGov to be verified.

If the sender ID is not on the register, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will either block the SMS or include a warning.

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Communications Minister Michelle Rowland emphasised the tool was crucial in protecting Australians from "increasingly sophisticated and organised scammers".

"We've all received scam messages on our phones purporting to be from reputable sources – and it's costing Australians millions of dollars every year," Rowland said.

"This mandatory register will enable these messages to be blocked or flagged as a scam – better protecting consumers from being cheated.

"In this way, the register will also help restore trust in communications received from legitimate organisations and make Australia an even harder place for scammers to operate."

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Can you pick the Black Friday scam text message?

The federal government provided $10 million for the tool in the 2023-24 Federal Budget.

The government anticipates the register will be open for registration of sender IDs from late 2025, following close consultation with telcos and the companies being impersonated.

More than $11 million has been lost due to text message scams this year, according to Scamwatch.

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