TL;DR: ACMA’s report on action on scams, spam and telemarketing for January to March 2026 says telcos blocked more than 109.3 million scam calls and 45.2 million scam SMS in the quarter, and more than 4.0 billion scams in total. Lycamobile paid a A$376,200 penalty for mobile number fraud breaches, with at least A$175,000 in reported consumer losses.
What happened
The ACMA report says Lycamobile failed to carry out required identity checks 131 times when porting numbers. Lululemon paid a A$702,900 penalty for spam breaches, including over 370,000 marketing emails without an unsubscribe option.
ACMA received more than 4,500 complaints about telemarketing and spam (solar, insurance and electricity were the most complained-about industries), issued 967 compliance alerts and shared anonymised scam call data with telcos. It opened two investigations and finalised six, all scam-related.
Why it works
Blocking happens inside the network, so most scam calls never reach you, yet the ones that do can still cause large losses. Port-out identity checks are the control that stops a criminal moving your number.
From July 1, 2026 the SMS Sender ID Register labels unregistered sender IDs as “Unverified”.
Background: our explainers on how common SIM swapping is in 2026 and smishing. See also Mobile Number Fraud Alert: Scamwatch and ACMA Warn Australians and “Unverified” Texts: What Australia’s SMS Sender ID Register Means. For wider numbers, see our data page on how scams start (contact methods).
What it means for you
- If your phone suddenly loses signal, contact your telco and bank at once, as it can mean a number has been moved.
- Set a strong account PIN or password with your telco.
- Treat texts labelled “Unverified” with caution.
- Report scams to Scamwatch and use IDCARE (1800 595 160) if your identity is at risk.
If you have already sent money
Contact your bank immediately, report the scam to Scamwatch and through ReportCyber, and call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 if your identity may be at risk. Our guides on the Scamwatch and IDCARE recovery process, Australian bank impersonation scams and how to reverse a wire transfer scam explain the steps, and what to do after a scam, wherever you live covers the first 24 hours. Scammers often start with details taken from past leaks, so run our free digital footprint check to see what of yours is already exposed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many scam calls and texts did telcos block?
More than 109.3 million scam calls and 45.2 million scam SMS in January to March 2026.
What was Lycamobile penalised for?
Mobile number fraud breaches, including failing to carry out required identity checks 131 times when porting numbers, with at least A$175,000 in reported consumer losses. The penalty was A$376,200.
What is the SMS Sender ID Register?
A register of branded sender IDs. From July 1, 2026, unregistered sender IDs are labelled “Unverified”.
Where do I report scams?
To Scamwatch, and contact IDCARE on 1800 595 160 if your identity may be compromised.
Sources
Related Reading
- Mobile Number Fraud Alert: Scamwatch and ACMA Warn Australians
- “Unverified” Texts: What Australia’s SMS Sender ID Register Means
- Ofcom Sets Rules to Block Scam Texts From 2027
- Australia Scam News: October 2026 Roundup and Warnings
- How Scams Start: Contact Methods in US, UK and Australia (2025)
- What to do after a scam, wherever you live