How to Spot Text Message Scams in Australia
Scam texts are part of daily life in Australia now. They turn up looking like a message from your bank, a courier, the power company, your phone provider, a government department, or even someone you know. The story changes, a fee to pay, details to update, a refund to claim, a delivery to confirm, but the goal is always the same: to get you to act before you think.
Some are easy to spot. Others look genuinely convincing. This guide explains how to tell a scam text apart, what to do about it, and how to recover if you have already clicked.
What is a text message scam?
A scam text is a message built to trick you into doing something unsafe: clicking a link, entering your bank login, handing over a password or personal details, calling a fake support number, making a payment, or installing a dodgy app. Scammers nearly always pose as a well-known company or a trusted organisation. As Scamwatch puts it, scams lean on pressure, urgency and false trust to get people to act quickly, which is exactly why slowing down works.
Common types of text message scams
Courier delivery scams
These claim a parcel is held up and a small fee will release it: “Your parcel could not be delivered. Pay $2.49 to reschedule delivery.” The link leads to a fake site that asks for your card details. The small amount is deliberate, since people pay $2.49 without a second thought. Australia Post and the big couriers are common disguises here.
Bank security scams
These say there has been suspicious activity: “Your bank account has been temporarily locked. Verify your details now.” No real bank will ever ask you to log in through a link in a random text. In fact, under an industry agreement Australian banks have removed links from their text messages altogether, so a bank text with a link is a scam.
Toll or fine payment scams
These claim an unpaid toll, parking fine or overdue fee, often pretending to be from a road toll service like Linkt or a state agency. Again the amount is usually small, because a few dollars feels easier to just pay than to question.
Government payment or refund scams
Some pretend to be from the ATO, Centrelink, Medicare or myGov, saying you are owed money or need to confirm your details. Real agencies do not chase you for bank logins by text, and they will not send you a link to claim a refund.
Family emergency scams
This is the one we hear about most. A scammer poses as a child or grandchild on a new number: “Hi Mum, I lost my phone. This is my new number. Can you help me pay a bill?” It works because it skips straight past your defences and pulls on worry. Always check by ringing the person on the number you already have for them. This is one piece of a bigger picture, so it is worth reading our full guide to staying safe online as well.
Warning signs of a scam text
A message is worth a second look if it:
- Comes from an unknown number
- Includes a link you were not expecting
- Tells you to act immediately
- Asks for your bank details, password or a verification code
- Has spelling mistakes or odd wording
- Threatens a penalty if you do not act
- Offers a refund, prize or payment you were not expecting
- Makes you feel worried or rushed
One warning sign is enough to stop and check.
The simple pause test
Before tapping any link in a text, ask yourself one thing: was I expecting this message? If the answer is no, do not click. Go to the company’s website yourself by typing the address into your browser, or ring them on a number from their official site. Never use the link or the phone number in the suspicious text, because both lead straight back to the scammer.
What to do if you receive a suspicious text
If a text looks off, the safest path is short and simple:
- Do not click the link.
- Do not reply.
- Do not call any number in the message.
- Take a screenshot if you want to keep a record.
- Block the number, then delete the message.
You can also report it, and it costs nothing. Forward the scam text to 7726 (it spells “SPAM” on the keypad). Your mobile provider uses these reports to track and block scam senders. You can also report the scam to Scamwatch online at scamwatch.gov.au, which helps warn other people.
What to do if you clicked a scam link
First, do not panic. Clicking a link does not automatically mean your money or details are gone. What matters is what happened next.
If you clicked but entered nothing
Close the page without typing anything in. You are most likely fine. To be tidy, clear your browser history and run any pending updates on your phone.
If you entered bank or card details
Ring your bank straight away, using the number on the back of your card or from the bank’s official website, and tell them you may have entered your details into a scam site. Scamwatch gives the same advice for anyone caught out: stop all contact with the scammer, make no further payments, contact your bank or card provider, and report it. Banks deal with this every day and would far rather hear from you early.
If you entered a password
Change that password right away, and change it anywhere else you have used the same one. Turn on two-step verification if the account offers it, which stops a stolen password being enough on its own.
If you installed an app
Delete the app and update your phone. If it asked for any financial information, contact your bank as well. And if you are not sure what to do at any point, ask a family member you trust or one of the support services below. There is no shame in checking.
Should you reply STOP?
No. Replying anything, even STOP, tells a scammer your number is live and being read, which only invites more. Save STOP for legitimate marketing texts from services you actually signed up for.
How Australia is making scam texts easier to spot
A few recent changes are quietly working in your favour. Since the middle of 2025, businesses and organisations, including the banks, have had to register their names on the ACMA SMS Sender ID Register. The aim is that the name shown at the top of a legitimate text is the real brand, making it harder for a scammer to pose as “CommBank” or “Australia Post” in your message list.
At the same time, under the banks’ Scam-Safe Accord, Australian banks have removed links from their own text messages. So the rule is simpler than ever: if a text says it is from your bank and contains a link to tap, it is a scam, no matter how real the sender name looks. When in doubt, ignore the message and open your banking app yourself.
How family members can help
If you are helping a parent or older relative, a simple shared rule does more than any lecture. Something like: “We do not click money, bank, parcel or government links in texts. We check them another way first.” Beyond that, you can help by:
- Saving important phone numbers into their contacts
- Showing them how to block a number
- Setting up banking alerts
- Turning on two-step verification
- Agreeing they can ring you before acting on any worrying message
The point is never to make anyone feel foolish. These scams are designed by people who do this full time, and they are built to catch anyone off guard.
A simple scam safety checklist
Before clicking a link in a text, run through these:
- Was I expecting this message?
- Do I recognise the sender?
- Is it asking for money or personal details?
- Is it trying to rush me?
- Can I check this another way?
If in doubt, do not click.
Where to get help in Australia
If money has actually been taken, contact your bank first, before anything else. To report a scam and get current warnings, use Scamwatch online at scamwatch.gov.au. If any personal or identity details may have been exposed, IDCARE offers free, confidential support on 1800 595 160. For online fraud and cybercrime you can also make a report through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au, or call the Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 292 371.
Final thought
Scam texts can look convincing, but nearly all of them run on the same trick: making you act quickly. Pause before you click, check the message another way, and ask someone you trust if you are unsure. That short pause is usually all it takes to avoid a much bigger problem.
