Australia Labels Unverified Texts to Fight $18M Scam Wave

Australians just got a powerful new shield against text message scammers who've been posing as banks, the tax office, and trusted brands.

From July 1, any text message sent from an unregistered sender will be labeled "unverified" on your phone. It's a simple change that could save millions of dollars and countless headaches.

The timing couldn't be better. Scammers stole nearly $18 million from Australians through fake text messages last year, often pretending to be organizations like the Australian Taxation Office or myGov.

Here's how the new system works. Legitimate businesses can register their text message sender IDs with telecommunications providers at no cost. Messages from registered senders will appear normal, while everything else gets the "unverified" warning label.

Over 17,000 sender IDs have already been registered by businesses, charities, and community groups. Even universities are jumping on board to protect their students and staff.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is running the program. Their message is clear: if you see "unverified," don't click any links or share personal information.

Telecommunications companies are already doing their part, blocking more than 153 million scam texts in 2025 alone. The National Scam Centre referred over 4,000 suspicious numbers to phone companies for blocking, four times more than the previous year.

The Bright Side

The fight against scammers is actually working. Text message scam reports dropped from 77,365 in 2024 to just 29,058 in 2025, a massive 62% decrease.

Professor Paul Haskell-Dowland from Edith Cowan University says the new labels will add crucial protection against criminals pretending to be banks or government agencies. It gives people a clear visual cue about what's safe and what's suspicious.

Businesses of all sizes should register their sender IDs to avoid having their legitimate messages labeled as unverified. The Australian Communications and Media Authority has a dedicated website with free registration instructions.

Cybersecurity expert Mohiuddin Ahmed from Adelaide University offers straightforward advice: don't interact with unverified messages. If something is truly urgent, the sender will call you directly.

Telstra customers can even forward suspicious texts to 7226 to help flag potential scams for everyone.

This simple label is empowering millions of Australians to spot scammers instantly and protect their money and personal information.