You've probably had text messages that show a name at the top instead of a phone number — like "ATO", "myGov" or "Caznet". That name is called a sender ID. From 1 July 2026, the rules about who can use one are changing — and it's good news. The change is designed to make it much harder for scammers to pretend to be a company or government department you trust.
What is a sender ID?
A sender ID is simply the name shown at the top of a text message instead of a phone number — so you can see at a glance who it's from. "ATO" and "myGov" are common examples. It's meant to help you trust the message. The problem is that, until now, scammers have been able to fake these names.
Why is it changing?
One of the most common scams is to fake a trusted name at the top of a text. To make it worse, your phone groups texts with the same name into one conversation. So a fake "myGov" scam can drop in right below a real myGov message you got months ago — which makes the fake one look genuine. It's an easy trap to fall into.
To stop this, a new official list called the ACMA SMS Sender ID Register records which organisations are allowed to use which names. Phone companies like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone then block or flag any text that uses a name that isn't on the list.
What you'll see on your phone
From 1 July 2026, texts from a registered name will look the same as they always have. Texts from a name that hasn't been registered will be marked "Unverified", like this:
Notice there's no "Verified" stamp on the genuine message — a registered name simply appears as normal. The only new label is the "Unverified" warning, which is added to texts whose name hasn't been registered.
"Unverified" doesn't always mean a scam — some genuine businesses may just not have registered yet. But it is a good reason to stop and think before you do anything. If you're not sure about a message:
- Don't tap any links and don't share personal or bank details.
- Check with the company yourself — using a phone number or website you already know, not the one in the text.
- Be wary of pressure — "act now or your account will be closed" is a classic scam trick.
Do you need to do anything?
No. If you're just receiving texts, there's nothing to set up or sign up for. The new system runs in the background — you'll simply start seeing the "Unverified" warning on messages that don't add up. All you need to do is take that warning seriously.
The same idea applies to phone calls
You may have wondered why your business name — or even a "spam" warning — sometimes pops up when you ring a mobile. That's a separate system, but the goal is the same: helping people know who's really getting in touch. If that side of things interests you, our companion guide explains how caller ID labelling works on mobiles.
What this means for Caznet customers
We've already registered our name on the new list, so the texts you get from us will keep arriving as normal — never flagged as "Unverified". If you ever get a message that claims to be from us and something feels off, don't act on it. Call us first on 1300 229 638 and we'll let you know if it's really from us.
Want the official word? The ACMA explains it here: Some text messages will look different from 1 July.