Email scam · Telstra
Telstra Email Scam: 'Your Bill Payment Failed' and 'SMS OTP CODE' Messages
Reported September 2026
Fake Telstra emails say your last bill couldn't be processed or your payment was declined, and ask you to enter a new credit card on a scam website.
What the scam looks like
Telstra lists several active email scams about billing. The emails say your last bill couldn’t be processed, a direct debit or AutoPay payment failed, or your payment was declined. They ask you to click a link to update your payment method or enter a new credit card.
One version refers to an “SMS OTP CODE” in capital letters and may show card security logos such as 3D Secure to look official. The link leads to a scam website that collects your card and personal details.
What to watch out for
- An email about a failed or declined payment that asks you to click a link to fix it.
- “SMS OTP CODE” in capitals, or card security logos used to build trust.
- Bills sent as HTML or ZIP attachments, or emoji in the subject line. Telstra says it doesn’t send official emails like this.
What to do
- Don’t click the link or open any attachment.
- Check your account and bills in the My Telstra app, or by typing telstra.com.au into your browser.
- If you entered card details, call your bank to block the card.
Where to report it
- Forward the email to abuse@telstra.com.
- Report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au.
Sources
- Telstra active scams and scam alerts (September 2026)
We summarise official warnings in our own words, and never reproduce the links in scam messages. If something here looks wrong, tell us.