How do I report a scam phone call or text message?

Okay, here's how you can report scam phone calls and text messages, based on the provided legislative context:

In Plain English

There are a few things you can do if you receive a scam phone call or text message:

1. Report to Your Provider: Forward the suspicious text message to "7726". This sends the message to your mobile provider, who can investigate the number and potentially block it to prevent further scam activity.
2. Report to Scamwatch: You can report the scam to Scamwatch. This helps them track scam trends and warn others.
3. Report to ACMA: If the scam relates to telemarketing, and you need help identifying the caller, the Telecommunications Act 1997 says the ACMA has a duty to take reasonable steps to assist you.
4. Do Not Call Register: You can register your phone number on the Do Not Call Register via the ACMA or contracted service provider (Do Not Call Register (Administration and Operation) Determination 2017).
5. Report to SPF Regulator: If you are a regulated entity, you may need to report actionable scam intelligence to an SPF regulator (Competition and Consumer Act 2010).

Detailed Explanation

Here's a more detailed breakdown of your options, referencing the relevant legislation:

• Reporting Suspicious Text Messages:
  • The Telecommunications Service Provider (Customer Identity Authentication) Determination 2022 mentions that in the UK, Ofcom encourages reporting suspicious text messages by forwarding them to '7726'. This directs the message to the relevant mobile provider for investigation and potential blocking.
• Reporting to Scamwatch:
  • The Telecommunications Service Provider (Customer Identity Authentication) Determination 2022 refers to Scamwatch as a source of data on scams. While it doesn't explicitly detail how to report to Scamwatch, it highlights the importance of reporting to track scam trends.
• ACMA's Role in Assisting with Complaints:
  • Section 509 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 outlines the process for making complaints to the ACMA. Subsections 509(5) and 509(7) specifically address situations where you lack sufficient information to identify the caller or sender of a marketing call or fax. In such cases, the ACMA has a duty to take reasonable steps to assist you in identifying the person who made the call/sent the fax or caused it to be made/sent.
• Do Not Call Register:
  • The Do Not Call Register (Administration and Operation) Determination 2017 concerns the administration and operation of the Do Not Call Register.
• SPF Regulators:
  • The Competition and Consumer Act 2010 discusses the Scams Prevention Framework (SPF) and the role of SPF regulators. Sections 58BR and 58BS outline the requirements for regulated entities to report actionable scam intelligence or scam reports to SPF regulators.