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.

See: Business communications – SMS and telephone best practice – NCSC.GOV.UK