The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will create a register of legitimate businesses’ phone numbers to cut down on scam texts.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the Federal Government had asked ACMA to set up the register so that scammers can’t mimic real businesses’ text messages to customers.
Telcos like Telstra and Optus will be required to verify messages sent on behalf of registered companies before they reach a user’s phone.
Background
In January, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority announced the number of reports of financial scams had doubled from 2022 to 2023.
Financial Rights Legal Centre spokesperson Alexandra Kelly said: “Banks, telcos and other institutions need to take responsibility for the fact that scammers are using their payment and communications systems to perpetrate fraud.”
One common type of scam is phishing, where scammers pose as known organisations such as Australia Post, myGov, or toll company Linkt.
ACMA register
The SMS Sender ID Register, which was first announced by the Government in April 2023, will be run by ACMA.
Companies will need to verify their sender ID on the register to legitimise any text messages they send to customers.
Telcos (like Telstra or Optus) will then be responsible for verifying if a text message that claims to be a certain company matches up with a sender ID.
ACMA will be notified of messages from a sender ID that isn’t in the register.
These messages will then be sent with a warning for potential scams or be blocked entirely.
The register is aimed at stopping scammers from being able to use well-known company and brand names.
It will also verify messages from legitimate companies.
The Government has run a pilot version of the register since December last year. Next year, ACMA will consult with companies on rules for the industry, and begin adding IDs to the register.
Comment
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the register “is an important tool to protect… Australians from sophisticated and organised scammers.”
Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones said the register is aimed at “disrupting the scammers’ business model.”
Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said the register “appears more designed at trying to create some sense of activity from a Communications Minister in drift mode”.
