To help safeguard customers from fraudulent text messages, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is introducing a new SMS Sender ID Register. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is changing?
From 1 July 2026, telcos will begin checking if the SMS Sender ID (the name that appears as the sender of a text message) is officially registered by the business or organisation sending it.
What this means for you:
- Registered Sender IDs: When you receive an SMS from a business or organisation that has registered its Sender ID (e.g., ‘amaysim’), it will be delivered to you as normal and appear as that name.
- Unregistered Sender IDs: If you get a text message showing a Sender ID that is not registered in the SMS Sender ID Register, it will come up as Unverified before it is delivered to you.
How this will help protect you from scams
This new ‘Unverified’ label serves as a warning, helping you identify which texts may not be from a legitimate source. We strongly encourage you to be cautious with any message you receive that is marked as ‘Unverified’.
The SMS Sender ID Register is part of the government’s Fighting Scams initiative to help protect Australians from impersonation scams.
How amaysim messages you
As you probably know, we use SMS to communicate everything from service information to our latest deals. What you may not know is that we also use a Sender ID that appears in your messages app as amaysim, as well as texts from 0421 263 657. We recommend you save this number in your phone as ‘amaysim’, just so you know it’s not spam.
Where you can get more info
For further details about the SMS Sender ID Register, please visit https://www.acma.gov.au/sms-sender-id-register