The Albanese Government is taking further action to protect Australians from SMS scams with a trial phase of the Sender ID Registry being rolled out today.
More than 47 per cent of Australians have reported exposure to fake or deceptive text messages in the last year, and in 2022 Australians lost an estimated $3.1 billion to scams. Text message are the leading contact method for scams according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The Registry will help stop scammers from spoofing trusted brand names – like Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank – and slipping into legitimate text exchanges to deceive Australians.
This voluntary pilot phase will test the operation and effectiveness of the Registry before the Government moves towards a finalised scheme in 2024.
A number of organisations have already joined the pilot and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will formally invite additional organisations that have been the subject of spoof text scams to participate from early 2024. Participating telcos include Telstra, Optus, TPG Telecom and Pivotel.
The Registry was announced in the 2023-24 Federal Budget, with the ACMA receiving $10 million over four years to launch and maintain the SMS Sender ID Registry.
In the past 15 months telcos have reported blocking over 336.7 million scam SMS under ACMA-registered rules.
The Registry complements the Albanese Government’s investment to establish a National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC) within the ACCC as an innovative, world-leading public-private sector partnership to disrupt and stop scammers in Australia.
The NASC is leveraging expertise and resourcing from across government, law enforcement, telecommunications providers, financial services, digital platforms and other intermediaries to deliver a cohesive strategy to prevent future impacts on the economic and social wellbeing of Australians.
Consumers should remain vigilant about suspicious texts and take action to confirm messages are from legitimate businesses or government agencies. If people receive scam messages, they should report them to the Scamwatch service and provide as much detail as possible: www.scamwatch.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
“Stopping criminals from ripping Australians off through dodgy scam texts is a key priority for the Albanese Government.
“The new SMS Sender ID Registry is an important tool to take these scammers on and disrupt their criminal activities. This trial will help the Government improve the system before a full national rollout in 2024.
“We thank telcos and some of Australia’s leadings brands for participating in this first step, and encourage others to get on board too.
“Scammers are sophisticated criminals, but we are determined to do what we can to keep Australians safe”.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, the Hon Stephen Jones MP
“Scammers are stealing over $3 billion a year from Australians. We committed at the election to combat scams and fraud, and we are doing just that.
“Across Government and the private sector, from telcos, to banks, to digital platforms, we are taking the fight to the scammers and putting up barriers, to make Australia a less favourable destination for these criminals”.
