Mobile messaging's growth has led to an unwanted rise in spam and phishing attempts across the globe. Scammers send fake text messages to trick recipients into giving them personal information — things like password or account number that can be used to gain access to email, bank, or other accounts.
Modica is committed to combating scam SMS globally. We have been providing safe and secure intelligent messaging solutions to customers for over 15 years and understand the importance of protecting the public from SMS and identity theft scammers.
We work with regulators, banks, telcos, and our customers around the world to protect users. For example, since July 2022, almost 90 million SMS scams have been blocked under the new Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) rules. Modica is committed to combating spam SMS and understands the importance of protecting the public from spam and identity theft scammers.
Some of the ways we protect you and your audience, include; Sender ID Registration, URL Verification and working with telcos on their trusted sources programs.
Scams target everyone. Scammers use stealth, surprise and clever tactics to get what they want, which may be your money or your personal details. No-one is too smart to be scammed.
But, there are things you can do to help spot—and stop—a phone scam.
If you think you’ve been scammed, tell your bank and phone company immediately.
We commend the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on the important role they play in combating SMS and identity theft phone scams. For information on how to spot and stop phone scams, visit https://www.acma.gov.au/phone-scams. If you think you’ve been scammed, contact your bank and phone company immediately and report it to Scamwatch. Contact IDCARE if you’ve had personal details stolen.
Here is the industry code that service provides such as Modica are required to adhere to - https://www.commsalliance.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/72150/C661_2022.pdf
Customers should mitigate the risk of a phone scam, by taking these steps:
- protecting their personal information and not sharing it with unknown or unsolicited callers
- contacting their financial institution immediately if they believe they have lost money to a scammer
- changing default PINs and passwords on newly acquired customer equipment
- selecting strong PINs and passwords (e.g. Not “1234” or “0000” or “password” etc.)
- locking devices with secure PINs
- ensuring that voicemail PINs are secure
- disabling PABX ports and features that are not used (e.g. remote call-forwarding)
- changing PINs and passwords regularly
- not responding to missed calls or SMs from unknown international Numbers, unknown Australian Numbers or an unknown source
- not clicking on URLs or making return calls to telephone Numbers contained in the SM from unknown international Numbers or unknown Australian Numbers or an unknown source
- Blocking suspicious or unknown Australian Numbers or international Numbers on devices and use of Blocking services or products, where available, on landlines
- allowing unknown calls to go to voicemail and then listening to any message left to ascertain if this might be a genuine call
NOTE: Scamwatch, Stay Smart Online and the ACMA all provide awareness raising material about scams, as do other government departments like the Australian Taxation Office and Services Australia. The ACCC’s Little black book of scams is one particularly noteworthy and comprehensive example of scam awareness raising.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre collects information on fraud and identity theft and provides information on past and current scams affecting Canadians.
Victims of fraud are encouraged to report it
A list of recent scams is maintained at https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/scams-fraudes/medium-moyen-eng.htm#a1
In New Zealand, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment's Consumer Protection division and the Department of Internal Affairs play an important role in educating consumers about phone scams.
Visit https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/general-help/scamwatch/avoiding-scams/ for tips on how to avoid scams, and how to take action if you have been a victim of a scam.
The Department of Internal Affairs has useful information on how to report scams - https://www.dia.govt.nz/Spam-How-to-Report-Scams
The United Kingdom Government offers a range of information and support to prevent phone scams.
The most prevalent scam targets people's concerns around electricity bills. The government has already issued warnings, but the scams continue to spread.
Recipients of suspicious messages can forward the text message to 7726. Victims of fraud can report the issue online via Action Fraud https://reporting.actionfraud.police.uk/login or call 0300 123 20240.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/report-suspicious-emails-websites-phishing
The Federal Trade Commission (Consumer Advice) of the United States has useful information on how to recognise and report spam text messages. Visit https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages for more information.
How we safeguard your information
