To assist reduce text message frauds, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is establishing an SMS Sender ID Registry to identify reputable organisations, reports RTE.
The purpose of the SMS Sender ID Registry is to safeguard the Short Message Service (SMS) as a dependable and trustworthy medium for communication.
Later this year, text messages sent by companies and brands that are not included on the register to consumers will be flagged as “Likely Scam” and prohibited, reports RTE.
Studies conducted by consultants According to Europe Economics, scam calls and texts cost Irish consumers and companies more than €300 million yearly, with scam texts accounting for over €115 million of that total.
For services like appointments, delivery updates, and financial transactions, many businesses rely on SMS/text messaging to interact with their clients and consumers, reports RTE.
Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging is the term for this kind of communication.
A2P text messages frequently contain an SMS Sender ID, which is an alphanumeric identification that may represent the name of the brand or corporation that sent the message (e.g., 234BANK).
Businesses and service providers who manage large volumes of SMS traffic on ComReg’s behalf have until February 25th to register, reports RTE.
It is recommended that businesses who use SMS Sender IDs in their consumer communications direct their SMS provider to pre-register such IDs with ComReg right away.
Starting on July 3, all text messages sent by organisations that do not register will be marked as “Likely Scam” to warn the receiver that the message could not be authentic, reports RTE.
Text messages from unregistered SMS Sender IDs will thereafter be prohibited starting on October 3.
It is anticipated that companies that scammers frequently mimic, such banks and utilities, would register with the list.
“Text message scams are undermining the SMS communications channel, with consumers and organisations losing trust in SMS,” ComReg said, reports RTE.
“Europe Economics estimates the annual level of harm to Irish consumers and businesses from scam calls and texts at over €300 million per annum, of which approximately €115 million per annum is attributed to scam texts,” it added, reports RTE.
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