how do I report a suspicious SMS or MMS?

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At MATE, we take your privacy and safety very seriously. We continue to assist Australians in best practice techniques to combat scam calls and messages.

To help protect millions of Australians from harmful SMS/MMS messages, Telstra has rolled out a national reporting number that all MATE mobile customers can use to report suspected scams.

It’s straightforward and easy – simply forward any suspicious SMS or MMS to 7226 (SCAM).

This action, which comes at no charge and requires no reply from you, equips Telstra to better shield customers from scam messages that may attempt to dupe them into revealing personal details, financial information, or downloading malicious apps.

So, how can you report a scam message to Telstra via your MATE mobile service? Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, it’s as simple as forwarding the suspect message to us at “7226”. The steps for each device are outlined below:

For iPhone users:

Touch and hold the message bubble you want to forward, then tap More.
Select additional text messages if necessary.
Tap Forward and enter 7226.
Tap Send

For Android users using the default Messages app:

Tap and hold the message.
Tap on the three-dot menu button and hit Forward.
Select or type 7226 and hit Send SMS.

Once reported, you won’t receive a response from Telstra, but rest assured that they have received your report. This simple step helps prevent other Australians from falling prey to the same scam.

Detecting scam SMS and MMS isn’t always straightforward. While some messages are ridden with typos or overt requests for personal information, others can be well-written and deceptive. Hence, maintaining a healthy level of scepticism towards unexpected communications is crucial.

To help you identify potential scam messages, look out for the following red flags:

Unsolicited SMS messages requesting personal details or promoting questionable material
Numbers beginning with ’19XX’ or international codes other than +61 – these often come with premium rates
Promises of unexpected prizes in exchange for money
Links leading to a software installation on your mobile phone or tablet
Remember, if you’re ever in doubt, contact the sender’s official number to verify its authenticity.

For more information on how to protect yourself online and learn about cyber security, see some important links from MATE below:

myMATE - our new mate, in your pocket

how do I report a suspicious SMS or MMS?

It’s straightforward and easy – simply forward any suspicious SMS or MMS to 7226 (SCAM).

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