SIM Card Registration in Austria and Essential Digital Safety

If you buy a new prepaid SIM card (Wertkarte) in Austria, paying for it and inserting it into your phone is not enough: you must identify yourself. Everyday internet and phone use also involves risks such as spam, viruses and phishing. The following overview explains the main rules and safety measures.

Who must register a SIM card?

Anyone who newly buys a prepaid SIM card (Wertkarte) from an Austrian mobile provider must register it. The customer must personally identify themselves with the provider so that the card can be registered.

This requirement already applied to contract tariffs (Vertragstarif) and now also applies to prepaid cards. The legal basis is the Identification Ordinance (Identifikationsverordnung, IVO).

How can you identify yourself?

The available options differ between providers. Possible methods include:

• Presenting an official photo ID (amtlicher Lichtbildausweis) in person at the provider's shop or, in some cases, at a partner shop.
• Electronic identification through a bank, with the bank confirming your identity.
• Video identification through a video call with a customer service representative.

Check the mobile provider's own website to find out which identification methods are available.

How to reduce unwanted advertising and spam

Spam means unsolicited, usually mass-distributed emails. These may contain advertising, viruses or an attempt to defraud you. In Austria, sending electronic messages, including SMS, for advertising purposes without prior consent is prohibited.

Consent is not required only when all of the following conditions apply:

1. The sender obtained your contact details in connection with a purchase or service.
2. The sender uses them only to advertise similar products or services.
3. You had the opportunity to refuse this use when your details were collected and in every individual message.
4. You had not previously registered on the so-called E-Commerce-Gesetz-List.

No protection against spam is complete, but a spam filter (Spamfilter) in your email program or provided by your internet service provider can help. You may also want to use a second free email address for forums and registrations, while keeping your private address for people you know.

Never reply to spam, not even to complain. A reply confirms that your address is active and may lead to more messages. If the sender can be traced, the relevant telecommunications authority (Fernmeldebüro) is responsible for administrative penalty proceedings against spam senders.

How to recognise phishing

Phishing is a form of fraud in which criminals pretend to be a trusted person or company. Using fake emails, websites or messages, they try to obtain passwords, banking details or card numbers. Their aim may be identity theft and financial loss.

• A reputable company will never ask you by email to enter account or login details on a website.
• Do not click links or open attachments in suspicious messages.
• Check the sender's address carefully; it often reveals the fraud.
• If you are unsure, contact the company by telephone using trusted contact details.

Protecting your computer and phone from malware

Computer viruses are small programs that become embedded in other programs or in the system and cause unpredictable, often harmful changes. They are commonly hidden in executable files, such as files ending in EXE or COM.

Spyware collects information about you and transmits it. Adware uses your computer for advertising without your consent.

There is no 100% protection, but the following measures can significantly reduce the risk:

• Use an internet firewall (Firewall).
• Keep software up to date through regular updates.
• Use current antivirus software and, where necessary, additional protection against spyware and adware.
• Do not open messages or attachments from suspicious or unknown senders.
• Back up your data regularly, for example to a cloud service.
• Give children user accounts with limited permissions.

Unauthorised access to another person's system (Hacking) is a criminal offence in certain cases in Austria and is regulated by the Austrian Criminal Code (StGB).

Safer online shopping

Keep these basic rules in mind when shopping online:

• Read the product description before placing an order.
• Be careful with free offers, especially when registration requires your name and address.
• When using an online shop or online auction, where possible pay by bank transfer only after the goods have arrived.
• Use privacy (Privatsphäre) settings on social networks and a nickname on forums.
• Keep order confirmations and other purchase records. If there is a problem, you can contact consumer protection organisations (Konsumentenschutz).

If you are new to using the internet, adult education centres (Volkshochschulen) also offer beginner courses.

Frequently asked questions

Do I also have to register my old prepaid SIM card?

The identification requirement applies to the purchase of a new prepaid SIM card (Neukauf).

Can I identify myself only in person?

Not necessarily. Depending on the provider, electronic identification through a bank or video identification may also be available.

What should I do if I receive advertising SMS messages?

As a general rule, advertising SMS messages sent without prior consent are prohibited in Austria. You can indicate in advance on the E-Commerce-Gesetz-List that you do not want to receive them.

Should I reply to a suspicious email to stop further messages?

No. Replying confirms to the sender that your address works, which may result in more messages.

Practical steps

1. When buying a new prepaid SIM card, ask the provider which identification options are available.
2. Prepare an official photo ID if in-person identification is required.
3. Activate a spam filter and consider using a separate email address for registrations.
4. Do not provide account details through links in unexpected emails or messages.
5. Install updates, use a firewall and current antivirus software, and back up important data regularly.
6. Before shopping online, check the product information and keep the purchase confirmation.

For official information, consult oesterreich.gv.at. This article is based on information available online and is not professional advice.