Reducing SMS Scams: What you need to know about the new Sender ID Registry

From 1 July 2026, an important and significant change is coming to the Australian communications landscape with the introduction of the SMS Sender ID Register. This reform, being championed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), is designed to crack down on scam and spam text messages across Australia, and not a moment too soon as Australian’s lost more than $13.8 million to text message scams in the first several months of 2025 alone.  

How does one fall victim to an SMS scam? An SMS sender ID (alpha tag) is the name that displays at the top of your text message, for example “ATO,” or “AusPost,” or another company name that easily identifies who the SMS is from. It’s through this Sender ID that fraudsters impersonate trusted brands and companies to either steal your data, or your money, or both! Under the new rules, from 1 July 2026, all organisations must now register their sender IDs through the telecommunications provider before sending branded SMS messages. 

When everything kicks off on 1 July 2026, here’s what will happen: 

• • Only registered sender ID’s will appear as branded text messages 

• • Messages sent from unregistered ID’s will be labelled as “unverified” 

• • These unverified messages will be grouped together in a single message threat on your phone, signaling to you that they might be a scam 

This initiative also places new responsibilities on telco providers and message platforms, in that they must verify they have a legitimate reason to use a sender ID and ensure that corresponds with a business name, trademark, or domain associated with that organisation. The ACMC aren’t mucking about either, already demonstrating its’ muscles since the start of this year, dishing out fines to Tabcorp, Lululemon, and Lycamobile for breaching spam requirements that including sending messages without proper consent or adequate sending identification.  

Do I need to do anything right now? 

Yes, there are some things you can do now to prepare.  
 
1. Please ensure the following information is available and up to date, as it will be required during the ACMA registration process: 

• • Know your valid authorised business representative against your ABN via the Australian Business Register (ABR) 

• • Is your authorised business representative’s name, email and phone number still correct? 

• • This authorised contact will be responsible for creating the initial ACMA Assist account, receiving communications and instructions from the ACMA to approve sender ID registrations and can delegate approval to another authorised ACMA Assist user 

• • Know your practice website or online presence on a social media platform – this will be required during the registration process to verify your organisation’s legitimacy 

2. The authorised business representative on your ABN can set up an ACMA Assist account and delegate approval in preparation:

An ACMA Assist account will be required to register a Sender ID: 

• What you need before you start 

• • Set up MyID – Download the MyID app, with identity verified to Standard level  

• • Provide access to the business ABN 

• Follow ACMA’s official guide to set up your ACMA Assist account 

• • Creating and log in to ACMA Assist 

• • Add your ABN 

• • Delegating approval to another authorised ACMA Assist user (optional if you would like a practice manager etc. to complete the application process when it is submitted) 

We are currently working with our SMS provider to facilitate Sender ID registration applications for every practice ahead of the 1 July 2026 deadline. There will be further steps required from you at your practice to approve the registration with ACMA but we will share further updates and outline the next steps as soon as additional information becomes available. 

FAQ 

I only use Bp Comms for appointment reminders only, does this impact me?  

This change will not impact you: SMS must come from a mobile number in order for the reply to be received by your practice, therefore an alpha tag is not required.  

I send clinical reminders, health awareness and marketing message, does this impact me?  

This change will impact you: In the coming months, Best Practice will reach out to you via email to obtain more information in order to process the registration of your alpha tag.  

I don’t use Bp Comms, what is it and how can I get it? 

Bp Comms is an integrated patient communication tool that allows you to send SMS directly to your patient from the Clinical workflow, making it infinitely easier to deliver appointment reminders, health awareness campaigns, follow-ups, and other communications to your patients. The combination of automated messaging, reusable templates, recording of patient consent and built in contact notes that create a complete audit trail will help to reduce missed appointments improve patient engagement, save on admin time and maintain compliant and well documented patient communication. It’s well worth considering with the upcoming changes to assignment of benefits via SMS. Between now and 1 July 2026, please reach out to our account management team, or fill in the enquiry form on our website. 

I’m struggling to creating an ACMA Assist account, who do I call? 

You can contact the ACMA on 1300 850 115 or via email [email protected].   

The SMS sender ID register represents a major step forward in protecting Australians against SMS scams, whilst encouraging responsible communication practices across all industries. For organisations, particularly in Australian healthcare, the end goal for the ACMA is clear. They want transparent consent processes, accurate sender identification, and regulatory compliance and this change is a fantastic step in the right direction.