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Austria Implements New SMS Sender Registration to Combat Phishing

Austria Implements New SMS Sender Registration to Combat Phishing

First seen 17 Oct 2026, 16:47 UTC •
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ThreatCluster AI
ThreatCluster •October 17, 2026 at 18:49 UTC
  • •Austria's new rule blocks unregistered SMS senders to prevent phishing.
  • •Over 9,000 complaints about fraudulent SMS were reported in 2026.
  • •Mobile operators must verify sender authenticity and are liable for violations.

As of October 1, 2026, Austria has introduced a mandatory registration for text-based alphanumeric SMS sender IDs to combat phishing attacks. The regulatory authority RTR announced that only registered sender IDs will be allowed to send messages to users, effectively blocking unregistered or fraudulent senders. This measure responds to over 9,000 complaints regarding fraudulent SMS received this year, often resulting in significant financial losses for victims. Mobile operators are now responsible for verifying the authenticity of sender IDs before message delivery. Additionally, the direct sending of text-based SMS from abroad to Austrian numbers is now prohibited. The RTR has established a publicly accessible directory of approved sender IDs, which currently lists over 8,500 valid identifiers.

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Timeline

2026-10-01
New SMS sender registration law enacted
Austria's RTR implemented a law requiring registration for text-based SMS sender IDs to combat phishing.
Der Standard
2026-10-16
RTR announces implementation details
RTR confirmed that only registered sender IDs will be delivered to users, blocking fraudulent messages.
Salzburg24

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Common questions

Who is affected by the new SMS regulations?
All SMS senders in Austria must register their alphanumeric sender IDs to ensure message delivery.
What should mobile operators do under this new rule?
Mobile operators must verify the authenticity of sender IDs and ensure compliance with the registration requirement.
How can users check if a sender is legitimate?
Users can refer to the publicly accessible directory of approved sender IDs maintained by the RTR.