Why Your Bank’s Texts Look Different Now: The New SMS Sender ID Rules
You may have noticed something odd in your text messages lately. A message that used to show your bank’s name now says “Unverified” at the top. Or a text from a company you deal with turned up looking not quite right. Nothing has gone wrong with your phone. A new rule started on 1 July 2026, and it has changed the way business texts arrive in Australia.
The good news is that this change is on your side. It’s designed to make fake texts easier to catch. Here is what changed, what the new labels mean, and why you don’t have to do a thing.
Quick answer
From 1 July 2026, any Australian business that puts its name at the top of a text (the “sender ID”) has to register that name with the communications regulator, the ACMA. Texts from a registered name still show it as normal, like “ATO” or “myGov”. Texts using a name that isn’t registered now show the word “Unverified” instead. You don’t need to register anything or change any settings. This is simply a new clue to help you tell a real message from a fake one. An “Unverified” label is a reason to be careful, not proof of a scam.
What changed on 1 July 2026
When a bank, a government agency or a courier sends you a text, the name at the very top of the message is called the sender ID. Think of “Australia Post”, “CommBank” or “myGov”. For years, anyone could type any name into that spot, and scammers took full advantage. They faked those names to make dodgy messages look official.
Australia now has an official list called the SMS Sender ID Register, run by the ACMA. From 1 July 2026, businesses must register the names they send texts under. The phone companies, Telstra, Optus and the rest, then check every message against that list. If the name is registered, the text arrives as usual. If it isn’t, the phone company replaces the name with the word “Unverified” so you know it hasn’t been checked.
It’s a bit like the difference between a caller you don’t recognise and one your phone has saved as a contact. The register gives your phone a way to say, “I couldn’t confirm who this is from.”
What your texts look like now
There are really only three things you’ll see at the top of a message. Here’s what each one means.
| What you see at the top | What it means |
|---|---|
| A business name, such as “ATO”, “myGov” or “CommBank” | The name is registered and checked. This is a good sign, though it’s still worth reading the message with a clear head. |
| The word “Unverified” | The name used wasn’t on the register. Treat it with caution. Don’t tap any links or share details until you’re sure who it’s from. |
| An ordinary mobile number | A normal text from a phone number. These aren’t part of the new scheme, so nothing has changed for them. |
One thing worth knowing. In these early weeks, a genuine business may still show as “Unverified” if it hasn’t finished registering yet. So the label doesn’t automatically mean a scam. It’s a nudge to slow down and check, the same way you would if a stranger phoned claiming to be from your bank.
Why the change was made
Pretending to be a well-known name is one of the oldest scam tricks going. The clever, and nasty, part was that a faked text often dropped straight into the same conversation thread as the real ones from your bank or Australia Post. Sitting there among genuine messages, a fake looked completely at home. Plenty of careful people have been caught out that way, and there’s no shame in it.
The register makes that harder to pull off. A scammer can no longer borrow a trusted name for free and have it show up cleanly. If they try, the message now carries an “Unverified” flag that gives the game away. It won’t stop every scam, but it removes one of the tricks that made them so convincing.
What you need to do
Here’s the reassuring part. Nothing. You don’t register, you don’t sign up, and you don’t change a single setting. The rules apply to the businesses sending texts and to the phone companies, not to you. The ACMA and the telcos handle it all in the background.
What is worth doing is keeping the same good habits that have always kept people safe. The register is a helpful extra layer, not a reason to lower your guard. Your bank, the ATO and myGov will never text you out of the blue asking you to “verify your account” or claim a refund through a link. If you’re not sure a message is real, don’t use any link inside it. Open your browser and type the address yourself, or ring the organisation on a number from their official website or the back of your card. If you’d like a fuller refresher, our guide on how to spot text message scams walks through the warning signs.
Staying safe with texts, in five habits
- Treat an “Unverified” label as a reason to pause, not to panic.
- Never tap a link in a text you weren’t expecting.
- To reach your bank or a government service, type the address yourself or use a saved bookmark.
- If a message pressures you to act fast, that hurry is itself a warning sign.
- When in doubt, ring the organisation on a number you find yourself, not one from the text.
How to report a dodgy text
If a message looks like a scam, reporting it takes a few seconds and helps get the sender shut down. The steps differ slightly by phone.
On an iPhone, open the message and look below it for “Report Junk”, then tap it and choose to delete. On an Android phone, forward the message to 7226 (that spells SCAM on the keypad), then delete it. Whichever phone you have, you can also report scams to the national Scamwatch service at scamwatch.gov.au. And if you think a message about your bank account might be real, don’t reply to it. Ring the bank directly using the number on the back of your card.
A lot of everyday tasks like this now run through government accounts and apps. If that side of things feels new, our plain guide to using myGov and myID covers the accounts that banks and agencies most often text about.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: The SMS Sender ID Register in Australia
Do I have to register anything myself?
No. The SMS Sender ID Register only applies to businesses and organisations sending texts, and to the phone companies. As someone receiving texts, you do nothing and change no settings.
Does “Unverified” always mean it’s a scam?
No, but it’s a reason to be careful. It means the sender’s name isn’t on the register. That could be a scam, or it could be a genuine business that hasn’t finished registering yet. Don’t tap links or share details until you’re sure.
Why did my bank’s text suddenly change?
Because the new rules started on 1 July 2026. If the name still shows, your bank has registered it. If it shows “Unverified”, the message either used a name that isn’t registered, or your bank is still completing its registration.
What should I do if I get an “Unverified” text?
Read it, but don’t tap any links or reply with personal details. If it claims to be from your bank or a government service, contact them yourself using a number or website address you find on your own, not one in the message.
How do I report a scam text?
On an iPhone, tap “Report Junk” under the message. On an Android, forward it to 7226 (SCAM), then delete it. You can also report scams at scamwatch.gov.au.
