Is this bill or text from Optus a scam?
No. Optus is one of Australia's largest telcos and a legitimate company. What is not legitimate is the steady stream of texts sent in its name: 'verify your identity' messages fishing for licence and passport photos, reward-voucher links leading to fake login pages, and 'Optus Billing' suspension threats. The good news: a few quick checks almost always tell a real Optus message from a fake.
Genuine Optus links lead to optus.com.au — but a link can be made to look real, so don't go by the link alone. Below is exactly what a real Optus message looks like, the scams currently circulating in its name, the red flags that give a fake away, and a real example to compare against. Got a message in front of you? Check it now for an instant verdict.
What a real Optus message looks like
Genuine SMS from Optus typically arrive under the sender ID Optus or OPTUS, and genuine links lead to optus.com.au. Treat a link to any other address as a warning sign.
- Genuine Optus SMS messages use sender ID 'Optus' or 'OPTUS' only.
- Optus never sends a link in an SMS asking you to upload identity documents.
- Billing and account notices from Optus come from optus.com.au addresses or the My Optus app.
- Optus does not send surprise reward or upgrade links that require immediate login.
What Optus will never do
- Send an SMS link asking you to upload identity documents such as a driver's licence or passport (Optus never does this)
- Send surprise reward or upgrade links that require you to log in immediately
- Deliver billing or account notices from anywhere other than optus.com.au addresses or the My Optus app
- Suspend your service unless you 'verify' yourself through a link (no legitimate telco runs account verification through SMS links)
Common Optus scams
- SMS claiming you have a rewards voucher or bill credit that links to a fake login page on a lookalike domain such as optus-secure-login[.]example.
- Post-breach 'verify your identity' texts that ask you to upload a driver's licence or passport photo through an SMS link.
- Messages pretending to be from Optus Billing warning of account suspension and directing you to a phishing site on optus-billing[.]example.
Red flags to watch for
- Sender ID is anything other than Optus or OPTUS.
- The message contains a link asking you to verify identity or claim a reward.
- Urgent language about account suspension or loss of service.
- Requests for personal ID documents via an SMS link.
Optus scam examples
These composed examples show how scams impersonating Optus typically read, with the tells that give each one away. Compare them against anything you've received.
Optus: Following recent security activity, all customers must re-verify their identity. Upload your driver's licence or passport at optus-id-check[.]example within 24 hours to avoid suspension of your service.
What gives it away:
- Optus never sends an SMS link asking you to upload identity documents, so the request itself is the scam
- The upload page sits on a lookalike domain rather than optus.com.au, where genuine account matters live
- A blanket 'all customers' demand with a 24-hour deadline is pressure engineering; real account notices appear in the My Optus app
Subject: Your Optus bill credit is waiting. Good news! A credit has been applied to your account after a billing review. Sign in at optus-rewards-portal[.]invalid within 48 hours to claim it before it expires.
What gives it away:
- Optus does not send surprise reward or credit links that require an immediate login; the sign-in page exists to capture your credentials
- Genuine billing notices come from optus.com.au addresses or inside the My Optus app, not from a 'rewards portal' on another domain
- An expiring windfall is the oldest urgency lever there is; a real credit would simply sit on your account
Not sure about your message?
Paste the suspicious Optus text or email and get an instant scam verdict, free.
How to verify a message from Optus
Optus's real website is optus.com.au and the official app is the My Optus app. Reach Optus through those channels, never through the details inside a message you're unsure about.
- Don't tap the link, reply, or send any document through the message
- Open the My Optus app, or type optus.com.au into your browser yourself, and check your account and messages there
- If anything account-related were genuinely required, it would be waiting inside the app; a message that exists only in SMS is answering its own question
- If you're still unsure, use the contact options listed on optus.com.au, never a number or link from the message
If you have been scammed in Optus's name
Clicked the link, paid, or shared details? Act now. The first hour matters more than anything else you do later.
- If you uploaded a driver's licence, passport or other identity document, contact IDCARE (idcare.org) straight away for free identity support
- If you entered card or bank details, call your bank immediately, block the card and dispute any charges
- Change your My Optus password from optus.com.au, and change it anywhere else you reused it
- Report the scam to Scamwatch and ReportCyber using the links below, and forward the scam SMS to 7226 so carriers can block the sender
Where to report a scam impersonating Optus
Received — or fell for — a message impersonating Optus? Report it. It helps authorities and carriers shut the campaign down for everyone who gets the next one.
- Scamwatch — Report the scam to the ACCC's national scam service.
- ReportCyber — Report cybercrime and financial loss to the police.
- ACMA — Complain about scam texts and spam SMS, email or calls.
- Forward to 7226 (SCAM) — Forward the scam SMS to short code 7226 so carriers can block the source.
- IDCARE — Free identity and cyber support if your details were taken.
Latest Optus scams in 2026
Optus impersonation leans harder on identity theft than most telco scams. The signature move is the 'verify your identity' text that asks you to upload a licence or passport photo through a link, a play that trades on customers' memory of past data-breach coverage. Alongside it run reward-voucher and bill-credit texts that funnel you to fake login pages, and 'Optus Billing' suspension warnings. Every variant depends on you acting inside the message instead of inside your account. The habit that beats them: treat any SMS link about identity, rewards or billing as fake, and check the My Optus app yourself.
Frequently asked questions
I got a text from Optus with a link asking me to verify my ID — is it a scam?
Yes. Optus will never ask you to upload identity documents through an SMS link. Delete the message and report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au.
How do I know if an Optus SMS is real?
Check that the sender ID is exactly 'Optus' or 'OPTUS', and never click links in the message. Instead, open the My Optus app or visit optus.com.au yourself to check your account.
Optus scam text about a rewards voucher — what should I do?
Ignore it. Optus does not send SMS links for rewards or upgrades. Forward the message to 7226 and report it at scamwatch.gov.au.
What is Optus's real website?
The only official Optus website is optus.com.au, and account matters are handled there or in the My Optus app. Type the address yourself rather than following a link in a text or email. Lookalike domains that add words like 'secure', 'billing' or 'rewards' around the Optus name are phishing sites.
How do I report an Optus scam text?
Forward the SMS to 7226 (spells SCAM) so carriers can block the sender, and report it to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au) so the National Anti-Scam Centre can track the campaign. If you lost money, also report it to ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au); if you handed over identity documents, contact IDCARE (idcare.org) as well.
Related scam types
Scams impersonating Optus usually fit one of these patterns. Learn how each works:
Related brands
Other telco names scammers impersonate — check a message from one:
Sources
- Text or SMS scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- Account or identity takeover scams (Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre))
- IDCARE: Australia and New Zealand's identity support service (IDCARE)
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice — always verify with Optus through an official channel.