Who must comply with the Reducing Scam Calls and Scam SMs Industry Code?

CSPs must implement controls to detect, trace and block scam calls and SMs, including SMS Sender ID Register.

Two layers of anti-scam rules bind Australian telcos. The Reducing Scam Calls and Scam SMs code (C661:2022), on the ACMA's register of telco industry codes, places obligations on carriers and carriage service providers to monitor, trace and block scam calls and text messages. From 1 July 2026 the Telecommunications (SMS Sender ID Register) Industry Standard 2025 adds the SMS Sender ID Register, part of the Government's Fighting Scams initiative: carriers, carriage service providers and electronic messaging service providers that send, transit or terminate SMS or MMS carrying alphanumeric sender IDs (such as 'ATO' or 'myGov') must apply to the ACMA to participate. Originating telcos must tell customers about the register, offer to register sender IDs for them, and verify that each customer has a clear and legitimate reason to use the ID, such as a matching business name or trade mark. Unregistered sender IDs must be over-stamped 'Unverified'.

Applies when the business has industry: Telecommunications carriers / CSPs.

How the regulator frames it: Carriers and carriage service providers carrying voice calls and SMS (scam calls and SMS code); every Australian carrier, carriage service provider and electronic messaging service provider involved in sending, transiting or terminating SMS or MMS with sender IDs (industry standard). Carriage service providers supplying public mobile services must also notify consumers how registered and unregistered sender IDs are handled.

What triggers it: Supplying voice or SMS services; sending, transiting or terminating text messages that carry an alphanumeric sender ID from 1 July 2026.

Jurisdiction: Commonwealth law, so the test is the same in every state and territory.

Outcome across the 35 industries Rules Mate maps (1 of 35: yes; 34 of 35: no).

Structure does not change the answer in telecommunications carriers / csps: for every structure the answer is "yes".

Size does not change the answer in telecommunications carriers / csps: at every size band the answer is "yes".

Each line is one run of the Rules Mate applicability engine for a single business profile, with the reason the engine gives:

• Pty Ltd company in telecommunications carriers / csps with 6–19 employees, turnover $1M–$3M: applies. Industry: Telecommunications carriers / CSPs.
• Pty Ltd company in real estate agents with 6–19 employees, turnover $1M–$3M: does not apply. Requires industry: Telecommunications carriers / CSPs.

When due

Continuous. Participation in the SMS Sender ID Register was required to keep carrying sender ID messages from 1 July 2026, and 'Unverified' over-stamping applies to messages sent or terminated from that date.

Frequency

Ongoing

Evidence to keep

Scam call and SMS monitoring, tracing and blocking procedures; ACMA approval to participate in the SMS Sender ID Register; customer information published on the website; sender ID registrations lodged for customers and the verification of each customer's entitlement; over-stamping configuration and testing records.

Status

Current

Priority

High

Maximum penalty: A telco that is not approved to participate in the register may not send, transit or terminate SMS or MMS with sender IDs, and messages from non-participating telcos are blocked. The ACMA is the regulator for both the scam calls and SMS code and the industry standard.

Rules Mate has not yet classified the audit or assurance level for this obligation. Any audit, review or certification requirement is set by the regulator source listed below.

• ACMA scam call enforcement against telcos (2025): Scam call code applies across the industry, not just majors — smaller carriers under increasing audit.
• ACMA scam call enforcement waves 2024 (2024): Scam call traceback obligations applied across the sector — smaller carriers face structural compliance gaps.

If this obligation applies to you, so do these 4: the engine uses the same rule for each.

• Comply with Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code
• Comply with Customer Service Guarantee (CSG) for standard phone services
• Telco data retention — 2 years (Part 5-1A Telecommunications Act)
• Customer Service Guarantee (CSG)

Across the 1,890 business profiles Rules Mate evaluates, these obligations apply to most of the businesses this one applies to, and are far more common among them than among businesses generally:

• Comply with Basic Online Safety Expectations + industry codes: applies to 100% of the same businesses (11.7× the overall rate)
• Comply with online safety industry codes (Phase 1 + 2): applies to 100% of the same businesses (11.7× the overall rate)

Rules Mate tracks 5 published obligations tagged "telecommunications", 0 of them rated critical. For a professional services Pty Ltd company with 6–19 employees operating in every state, 0 of those apply outright. This obligation is rated high priority, and is an ongoing duty.

Regulated by Australian Communications and Media Authority.

ACMA: Telecommunications, broadcasting, radio, and online content regulator. Administers Spam Act, Do Not Call Register, telecom consumer codes.

• Australian Communications and Media Authority

Telecommunications Act 1997: Federal telecom regulation.

• Telecommunications Act 1997

Free tools that help with this obligation:

• Compliance calendar builder