Telstra has launched a new scam reporting service that allows customers to forward suspicious SMS and MMS messages to a national phone number. The service, which is free to use, will help Telstra to better identify and block scam messages.
To report a scam message, customers simply need to forward the message to 7226. Telstra will then investigate the message and take appropriate action, such as blocking the sender or reporting the message to the relevant authorities.
We are committed to making our network a safer place for our customer. This new service will help us to identify and block scam messages more quickly, and it will also help to raise awareness of scams among our customers.
Telstra CEO Andrew Penn.
Scam messages are a growing problem in Australia. In 2022, Australians lost an estimated $2.9 billion to scams. The most common scams involve phishing, where scammers send emails or text messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or government agency.
The emails or text messages often contain a link that, when clicked, takes the victim to a fake website that looks like the real website. Once the victim enters their personal information on the fake website, the scammer can steal it.
Other common scams involve lottery scams, where scammers send emails or text messages claiming that the victim has won a lottery that they never entered. The emails or text messages often contain a link that, when clicked, takes the victim to a fake website that asks for payment in order to claim the prize.
Telstra’s new scam reporting service is a valuable tool that can help to protect Australians from scams. If you receive a suspicious SMS or MMS message, please forward it to 7226. You can also report scams to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) at www.accc.gov.au/consumers/scams-and-fraud.
How to report a scam message to Telstra
It really is as simple as forwarding a suspected scam SMS or MMS message to us at “7226”. Depending on whether you’re using an iPhone or Android device, this method could be a little different.
| If you are using an iPhone: | If you have an Android device using the default Messages app: |
|---|---|
| 1. Touch and hold the message bubble you want to forward, then tap More. 2. Select additional text messages, if desired. 3. Tap Forward and enter 7226. 4. Tap Send | 1. Tap and hold on to the message. 2. Tap on the three-dot menu button and hit Forward. 3. Select or type 7226 and hit Send SMS. |
What to look for in a scam SMS and MMS
Telstra observes many of the most common SMS and MMS scams circulating. While SMS and email scams often bear typos and blatant demands for personal information and payments that can seem more obvious, others may be well-written and avoid these kind of hallmark identifiers.
The best defence against scams, therefore, is to remain sceptical of all unexpected communication regardless of the purported sender.
It can sometimes be difficult to tell an illegitimate message from a real one, but here are a few pointers that can help:
- Unexpected SMS messages asking for your personal details, advertising promotional material or asking you to click a link.
- SMS and MMS numbers that start with ‘19XX’. These are charged at a premium rate and can be expensive. Also look out for numbers that start with an international code other than +61 (Australia’s country code).
- SMS promising unexpected prizes that require you to send money to claim them.
- SMS that encourages you to click a link, which may then ask you to install a piece of software on your mobile phone or tablet. Just like computers, malicious software can put your phone and personal information at risk.
