The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has soft launched an anti-SMS spam hotline. The hotline allows consumers receiving spam SMS to send the offending message directly to a mobile number run by ACMA, rather than through an online form.
A source within ACMA said the hotline (0429 999 888) had not yet been officially launched and was currently being trialled among staff and people who regularly complain about SMS spam. However, the service is already being advertised on the ACMA website and consumers can register to use the service. According to the source, it was being set up due to a recent influx of complaints regarding SMS spam, and was being implemented to make it easier than the online forms currently used by the authority.
An official spokesperson from the ACMA was unavailable for comment at time of writing.
Computerworld Australia learned about the hotline after one journalist received a total of 30 messages purporting to originate from Telstra. The messages provided unique validation passcodes for a "Mobile Phone set up website," with each message providing a different passcode. The message did not provide the specific website. The spam occurred despite the fact that the journalist has never been a customer of Telstra.
A spokesperson from Telstra said the message most likely had to do with a call notification service, but could not say whether the spam was an internal issue or reveal whether the telco had received more complaints.
After a complaint was made to the ACMA, Computerworld Australia was told to send one of the offending messages directly to the hotline.
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