To help businesses protect their customers and differentiate their texts from those sent by scammers impersonating them, Which? has launched an SMS guide with support from across the banking, delivery and mobile industries. 

Nine key organisations, including Mobile UK, AICES, which represents delivery companies, and Consumers International, which represents consumer organisations in over 100 countries, are among those throwing their support behind the initiative.

In addition to these organisations, big delivery companies Hermes and DPD and banks Barclays and TSB have already agreed to adopt Which?’s 10-point guide.

Which?’s guide contains tips for businesses when using text messages to contact customers, such as avoiding hyperlinks where possible, not including phone numbers and protecting their SMS Sender ID so it cannot be spoofed by unscrupulous fraudsters. 

Further advice for consumers can be found on Mobile UK’s own website - https://www.mobileuk.org/advice-for-consumers

‍Notes to editors 

Which?’s SMS guide can be found at which.co.uk/sms-guide

Businesses that have agreed to adopt the guide: 

• Barclays
• TSB
• DPD
• Hermes

Organisations supporting the Which?’s SMS guide: 

• AICES
• Consumers International
• Friends Against Scams
• Home To Work
• Mobile Ecosystem Forum
• MobileUK
• Proofpoint
• Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum
• The Cyber Helpline