Telstra Scam Reporting Service: 7226

Telstra (only*) customers can forward scam messages (SMS and MMS) to 7226

On iPhone simply tap and hold the message and click "More" select "Forward" and type in the number.

On Android tap the three dots click "Forward" and then type the number.

The service is free of charge.

* Non-Telstra customers' can send scam messages to Scamwatch.

Telstra: Cleaner Pipes

Snitch a scammer: new reporting number to help customers fight SMS and MMS scams

Telstra is driven every day to make our digital experience a safer one. It's why we launched our Cleaner Pipes initiative and why from today we're helping all customers on the Telstra network join the fight against scammers by reporting SMS and MMS scams to a national phone number.

Customers who forward SMS and MMS scams to 7226 (SCAM) will help Telstra better protect millions of Australians from receiving harmful SMS/MMS messages that may attempt to trick them into providing their personal information credit cards or downloading malicious apps.

All you need to do is forward the SMS/MMS scam to 7226. We won't send you a reply message and you won't be charged for sending this SMS.

Our Cleaner Pipes initiative helps to block on average 23 million scam SMS each month since we introduced it in April 2022.

7226 is another keystone in the fight to stay ahead of scams and help Telstra's internal cyber security team to more quickly identify and block emerging scam techniques or threats before they can affect more Australians.

While Telstra can and does block millions of scam messages each month we can't catch everything. Our technology is evolving so it's important that everyone remains vigilant and alert to the rise in scam activity and we all have a part to play in helping to secure our personal and private data to help protect it from criminals who want to profit from it.

How to report a scam message to Telstra

It really is as simple as forwarding a suspected scam SMS or MMS message to us at "7226". Depending on whether you're using an iPhone or Android device this method could be a little different.

If you are using an iPhone:

Touch and hold the message bubble you want to forward then tap More.

Select additional text messages if desired.

Tap Forward and enter 7226.

Tap Send

If you have an Android device using the default Messages app:

Tap and hold on to the message.

Tap on the three-dot menu button and hit Forward.

Select or type 7226 and hit Send SMS.

It's as easy as that. One thing to note is that you won't receive a response once you report the number but rest assured knowing we have received your report which will help in preventing the same scam from potentially affecting others.

What to look for in a scam SMS and MMS

Telstra observes many of the most common SMS and MMS scams circulating. While SMS and email scams often bear typos and blatant demands for personal information and payments that can seem more obvious others may be well written and avoid these kind of hallmark identifiers.

The best defence against scams therefore is to remain sceptical of all unexpected communication regardless of the purported sender.

It can sometimes be difficult to tell an illegitimate message from a real one but here are a few pointers that can help:

Unexpected SMS messages asking for your personal details advertising promotional material or asking you to click a link.

SMS and MMS numbers that start with 19XX'. These are charged at a premium rate and can be expensive. Also look out for numbers that start with an international code other than +61 (Australia's country code).

SMS promising unexpected prizes that require you to send money to claim them.

SMS that encourages you to click a link which may then ask you to install a piece of software on your mobile phone or tablet. Just like computers malicious software can put your phone and personal information at risk.

And of course if you are in doubt call the sender's official number and check to see if it is real or a scam.

For more information on scams and how to protect yourself online head to Telstra.com and search cyber security.

Sopurce: Snitch a scammer: our new reporting number to help customers fight SMS and MMS scams
By Narelle Devine | telstra.com.au
May 24 2023

TELSTRA ESTABLISHES NEW SCAM-REPORTING NATIONAL PHONE NUMBER

Telstra has created a new phone line dedicated to helping battle SMS and MMS scams plaguing its customers.

When Telstra customers receive a scam message they can now easily forward it to the number 7226 - which spells out scam on a traditional alphanumeric keypad. The service is free of charge and is a part of the company's scam-blocking Cleaner Pipes initiative launched in April 2022.

Since then Telstra has blocked around 23 million scam messages each month - but as Telstra points out there is still more work to be done to fight scams.

The new service works on both Android and Apple devices. On iPhone simply tap and hold the message and click "More" select "Forward" and type in the number. On Android tap the three dots click "Forward" and then type the number.

"7226 is another keystone in the fight to stay ahead of scams and help Telstra's internal cyber security team to more quickly identify and block emerging scam techniques or threats before they can affect more Australians" Telstra said in an announcement.

"While Telstra can and does block millions of scam messages each month we can't catch everything. Our technology is evolving so it's important that everyone remains vigilant and alert to the rise in scam activity and we all have a part to play in helping to secure our personal and private data to help protect it from criminals who want to profit from it."

According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) scams cost Australians a total of exceeding $3.1 billion in 2022 a 55 per cent increase over the previous year. Massive data breaches from Optus and Medibank have led to a surge in scam operations.

"Australians lost more money to scams than ever before in 2022 but the true cost of scams is much more than a dollar figure as they also cause emotional distress to victims their families and businesses" said Catriona Lowe deputy chair of the ACCC in April 2023.

"In the weeks after the data breaches there were hundreds of reports to Scamwatch including reports of scammers impersonating government departments and businesses to carry out identity theft and remote access scams."

And while that $3.1 billion figure is high the true cost is likely far higher thanks to under-reporting from victims - the ACCC believes that 30 per cent of scams remain unreported.

Source: TELSTRA ESTABLISHES NEW SCAM-REPORTING NATIONAL PHONE NUMBER
by David Hollingworth | cybersecurityconnect.com.au
25 May 2023