Is that AusAlert text real? What a genuine emergency alert looks like

What is AusAlert?

AusAlert is Australia's new national emergency warning system. It is being tested across the country on Monday 27 July 2026 and launches properly on 1 October 2026, replacing the older SMS-based Emergency Alert system.

It will be used to warn people about bushfires, floods, cyclones, severe weather, public health emergencies and security incidents. Alerts are sent by the Australian Government and state and territory emergency services to phones in the affected area.

Why scammers love a brand-new government alert

Every ingredient a scammer wants arrives at once. The alert carries government authority. It is built around urgency — that is the entire point of it. And because it is brand new, nobody knows what a real one looks like yet.

On top of that, a nationwide test means millions of Australians have just been told to expect a message they have never seen before. That is the widest window impersonators will ever get, and it is open right now.

Others to expect over the coming weeks:

• “You must register your mobile number before 27 July to receive emergency alerts.”
• “You did not receive the national test. Confirm your details to activate alerts on your device.”
• “Download the AusAlert app to keep receiving critical warnings.”
• “Emergency relief payment available for residents affected by [disaster]. Claim here.”

The one test that settles it

So if a friend forwards you an “AusAlert”, or one appears in your normal text messages alongside your dentist and your daughter, it did not come from the emergency warning system. That single fact settles most of these without needing to judge the wording at all.

The second test is just as simple: a real alert never asks you for anything. There is nothing to register, nothing to verify, no compatibility to check, no app, no link and no reply. It tells you what is happening and what to do about the emergency. That is all.

What the national test involves

On Monday 27 July 2026, every compatible device in Australia receives a single test alert. Your phone will vibrate and play a siren-like sound for about ten seconds, and a message will appear on screen that clearly says it is a test.

• 2:00pm AEST — ACT, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria
• 1:30pm ACST — South Australia, Northern Territory, Broken Hill
• 12:00pm AWST — Western Australia

You do not need to do anything. Some people will receive it immediately, some later, and some not at all — understanding that variation is part of what the test is for. Missing it is not a problem and does not need fixing, which is exactly why “you missed the test, confirm your details” is such an effective lure.

What to do if you get one you are not sure about

1. Don't tap the link. A real alert does not have one.
2. Don't reply. A real alert has nothing to reply to.
3. Check the official source yourself — type ausalert.gov.au into your browser rather than following any address in the message.
4. Report it to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au so the next family gets warned.

If you already tapped something

You are not in trouble and you are not the first. Call your bank's fraud line straight away if you entered any card or banking details — the first hour is when they can still act. Then call IDCARE on 1800 595 160, which is free and government-funded, and change the password anywhere you entered one.

Nobody who offers to recover your money for a fee is legitimate. That is a second scam aimed at people who have already been caught once.

Common questions