Businesses urged to 'scam-proof' their messages to public

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has published new guidance for businesses on creating trustworthy customer text and telephone messages

The guidance follows a rise in text and call-based scams such as those involving fake parcel deliveries, the most prevalent type of 'smishing' text messages in 2021.

The guidance covers various aspects of secure customer communications including:

• issuing consistent and trustworthy SMS and telephone messages
• measures to make it harder for criminals to exploit telecoms channels
• providing a route for customers to independently verify communications and more

It includes recommended practices for putting services in place and offers nine tips for organisations to follow to create messages their customers can trust.

Read NCSC's new guide on business communications - SMS and telephone best practice.

This guide covers SMS and telephone messaging only. The NCSC has already published advice on email security and anti-spoofing, and avoiding scams sent via 'missed parcel' texts.

People who receive what they suspect is a scam text should forward it to 7726.

First published 31 January 2022