Work to block SMS scams

10th December 2024

Compulsory register to block SMS scams

The federal government has announced a new tool to limit SMS scams that have cost victims millions of dollars this year, as Meta cracks down on misleading Facebook ads.

What we know:

  • A mandatory SMS Sender ID Register will require telco providers to check whether messages being sent under a brand name correspond with the legitimate registered sender (SBS);
  • If the sender ID is not on the register, the Australian Communications and Media Authority will either block the SMS or include a warning;
  • “This mandatory register will enable these messages to be blocked or flagged as a scam – better protecting consumers from being cheated,” Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland said;
  • The register is designed to help stop scammers from using the names of trusted brands, including banks, service providers or government entities, and deceiving recipients into thinking the scam messages are from reputable sources;
  • More than $11m in losses from text message scams have been reported by Scamwatch this year so far, with some 68,000 attempted scams recorded;
  • The Albanese government says it has provided $10m through the 2023-24 federal budget over four years to launch and maintain the register, which is expected to be open to add sender IDs from late next year;
  • It comes as Meta pledges to introduce tighter rules on advertisers to tackle scam ads targeting Australians on Facebook and Instagram (SMH);
  • On Monday, Meta announced new rules for advertisers promoting financial products or services to Australians, including a requirement forcing advertisers of investment schemes to provide credentials;
  • Advertisers will have to verify which company the ad is for, who is paying for it and who the beneficiary is, with the information to be available to social media users seeing the ad.

News for December 2024