Is This SMS From A Real Collector?

Be cautious with unexpected texts

Text messages are a common way for scammers to reach people, because a short message can feel urgent, is cheap to send in large numbers, and gives you very little to go on. An unexpected text about a debt is not proof of anything by itself, so it is entirely sensible to treat it with care rather than acting on it straight away.

Look for the usual warning signs: a pushy or threatening tone, a link to an unfamiliar web address, a request for personal details, or anything that does not match what you would reasonably expect. When you notice these, slow down and verify before responding. A genuine message will still be genuine after you have taken a few minutes to check, so there is never any cost to pausing first, and quite often a real benefit.

Take care with links

Links in texts deserve particular caution, because a link can lead to a fake page that is designed to capture your details, and the web address itself may be disguised to look harmless. Rather than tapping a link in a message, go to the official website yourself by typing the address or using a trusted bookmark, and find what you need from there instead.

If a text claims to be from Merion, our official website is merion.com.au, and you should avoid entering any details on a page you reached by tapping a link in a text. Our guidance on phishing explains in more detail how fake pages and disguised links work, and why going direct to the official site is the safest habit to build, no matter how genuine a link appears at first glance.

Verify safely

The safest way to check a text is to confirm it through a channel you find for yourself, rather than the message in your hand. Look up the business's official website and use the contact details published there, instead of replying to the text or using any of its links or numbers. A scam often controls whatever reply channel it offers, so contacting it through those details proves nothing on its own.

For a text about a Merion matter, you can contact us through our official channels to confirm whether the message is genuine before you act on it. Remember, too, that a real message will not ask you to share passwords, full card details, or one-time codes by text, so any such request is itself a clear sign that the text should not be trusted.

Report a suspicious text

If you believe a text is a scam, the simplest and safest response is not to reply and not to tap any of its links. Stepping away costs you nothing and denies the message the urgency it relies on. You can then report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au, and many phone services also let you forward suspected scam texts to a reporting number so they can be acted on.

If you have already tapped a link or shared some details, act promptly: contact your bank or card provider, and change any passwords that may be affected. Acting quickly helps limit any impact, and reporting the message helps protect other people from receiving the same thing. There is no need to feel caught out, as these texts are made to look convincing, and a swift, calm response is the most useful thing you can do now.