SMS Sender ID Register

From 1 July 2026, sender IDs must be registered 

A sender ID is the branded name shown at the top of a text message thread. For example, ‘AusPost’, ‘myGov’ or ‘felix’. 

From 1 July 2026, businesses and organisations sending text messages using their name will be required to register their sender ID.

As scammers often impersonate trusted brands, scam messages can appear in the same message thread as real messages. To help you understand which messages are legitimate, the SMS Sender ID Register has been established and is managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). 

Messages from unregistered sender IDs will appear on your phone as ‘Unverified’ and will be grouped together in a single message thread. Messages from registered businesses will continue to appear as normal. 

You should be cautious of unexpected or suspicious text messages that are ‘Unverified’. To find out more, head to the ACMA’s SMS Sender ID Register page.

Frequently asked questions

1. What’s changing from 1 July 2026?

All companies and organisations using sender IDs need to register their sender IDs with the ACMA. Text messages from registered sender IDs will show the business or organisation’s name. Text messages from unregistered sender IDs will appear as ‘Unverified’, and will be grouped together in a single thread with other ‘Unverified’ messages.  

2. Why is sender ID changing?

Scammers often pretend to be well‑known brands or government agencies by faking sender IDs. These scam messages can appear in the same message thread as genuine messages, which can make them harder to spot.

The SMS Sender ID Register helps prevent this by making sure sender names are verified before they’re used.

3. What do I need to do if I use sender IDs?

If your business or organisation sends SMS or MMS messages using a sender ID, you’ll need to register that sender ID from 1 July 2026.

If your sender ID isn’t registered, messages will appear as ‘Unverified’. To register, head to the ACMA’s Sender ID Register.

Registration is handled through participating telecommunications providers. The ACMA manages the SMS Sender ID Register and publishes the list of participating providers and full registration requirements on its website.

4. What if I think I received a scam message?

Scammers use different tactics to pretend to be real businesses and try to get access to your personal information. These messages can sometimes be hard to spot.

If you think you’ve received a scam message, report it to ScamWatch.

To learn more about how we can help protect you from scams, visit our scam awareness page.

5. Where can I see more information?

For more information, visit the ACMA’s Sender ID Register page.