Latest news with #CommunicationsRegulator
The Journal
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Explainer: What's going wrong with ComReg's new new scam-text warning system?
A NEW SYSTEM to help phone users identify scam texts has caused some important messages from organisations such as hospitals and banks to be marked as 'Likely Scam'. The Communications Regulator rolled out the system last Thursday to prevent people opening or responding to spam messages which attempt to trick people into clicking unsafe links or sending money. However, issues with the system are causing people to avoid messages from some trusted companies and agencies, including VHI, the CAO, AIB and several hospitals, potentially causing customers to miss important information. Companies had to add themselves to a register to send messages to customers without being labelled as 'Likely Scam', which 8,000 companies have already done, however, a glitch in the system is causing messages from registered companies to be marked as 'scam'. Now, instead of the sender information showing up as the company name, it will appear as 'Likely Scam' so customers cannot tell who they have received a text from. What is the new scam text system? The new ComReg system labels texts from unregistered businesses as 'Likely Scam' to crackdown on the widespread issue of fraudulent messages, and protect people from losing money or revealing sensitive information to scam artists masquerading as trusted businesses. Europe Economics estimates over €300 million is lost each year by Irish consumers and businesses targeted by scam calls and texts. The system labels messages from untrusted senders as 'Likely Scam', and will completely block messages with this label from 3 October this year. Companies must register themselves with the communications regulator's new scheme if they want to send texts to customers without them being flagged as a scam. Advertisement Application-to-Person (A2P) SMS messages often include a SMS Sender ID to indicate who sent the message. It's usually the name of the company or organisation. Now ComReg must be made aware of the ID, otherwise texts sent will be flagged to recipients as 'Likely Scam'. If someone receives a message that says 'Likely Scam', this may be because the sender hasn't yet registered their ID, which companies must do before October to prevent being blocked. What are the issues with the system? The system is accidentally labelling messages from some legitimate businesses as 'Likely Scam'. Speaking to RTE's News At One programme, Comreg's director of market frameworks, George Merrigan, said the issue is caused by ComReg's technical partners. 'In terms of Comreg's own systems, all are working exactly to expectation,' he said. 'The issues we're experiencing are that some industry players are having some technical issues and we are working with them to resolve those issues as quickly as possible.' What are ComReg doing about it? ComReg has apologised for any inconvenience and said they are 'working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible'. 'ComReg is aware that some already registered Sender IDs are being modified to 'Likely Scam' and continues to work with industry parties to resolve any technical issues they are experiencing', they told The Journal . Tom Butler, Public Affairs Manager for ComReg, could not say whether ComReg will disable the 'Likely Scam' programme until the issues are fixed. ComReg are continuing to register all new SenderID applications received. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
08-07-2025
- RTÉ News
Comreg scam text regulator experiencing difficulties
A new system aimed at clamping down on fraudulent text messages is experiencing significant difficulties. The Communications Regulator has apologised to phone users who have received legitimate messages labelled as being a "likely scam". The scheme is supposed to protect people from opening or replying to fake messages. The glitch has affected messages from trusted senders, including hospitals, and organisations such as VHI, AIB, along with many others. Irish consumers have been bombarded with scam text messages for years many trying to trick people out of money. George Merrigan, Director of Market Framework with Comreg, said the issue is the result of technical problems with a number of mobile operators and companies who manage bulk messages on behalf of others. He said: "The telecommunications industry is a web of many networks, so you can have a small number of industry players having some technical implementation issues and that can sort of affect others, as a consequence." Mr Merrigan apologised to customers and asked them to bear with the company while the "teething issues" with the scheme are worked out. "So, so we don't believe the root of the issue is terribly large, but we realise the confusion it's causing for the end consumer at the moment who is our number one concern." "Our focus is on the root cause of the issue and where it is being experienced at the end of the line, which is the consumer but our understanding is a small number of industry players that are having the technical implementation issues." Text messages labelled as being "likely scams" are due to be completely blocked from October. There is concern that important information could be missed if the problem is not fixed quickly. Comreg says it hopes to have the problem fixed in the coming days. However, for now people are being urged to be cautious about messages labelled as being a scam and not to click on links contained in these messages.
