Omnisend turns off SMS sending to some countries by default when there is a higher risk of fraudulent or automated traffic, also known as SMS pumping.
This setting helps reduce unexpected SMS costs. You can enable or disable sending for each country from your SMS settings.
What is SMS Pumping?
SMS pumping is a type of fraud that uses automated bots to submit fake phone numbers through Signup Forms.
If a welcome or signup Automation Workflow sends SMS to those numbers, it can create large message volumes and unexpected SMS costs.
Before You Begin
Keep the following in mind:
SMS sending to high-risk countries is off by default.
When sending is off, you cannot collect SMS opt-ins from Contacts with phone numbers from that country.
You can enable sending for any listed country yourself.
The change takes effect immediately.
The list of high-risk countries may change as fraud patterns change.
💡 You can review the current country statuses under Store Settings → SMS → SMS sending by country.
Turn On SMS Sending for a Country
SMS sending is turned off by default for high-risk countries. However, you can enable it at any time from Store Settings → SMS.
⚠️ Important: Before enabling a country, review your recent signups. If you notice an unusual increase in contacts or phone numbers you do not recognize, keep sending off and add CAPTCHA to the relevant Signup Forms.
Step 1. Go to Store settings → SMS. Find the SMS sending by country section.
Step 2. Turn on the toggle in the country’s row.
💡 Click View all to see the full list of blocked countries.
Step 3. Review the warning in the confirmation window and click Enable SMS sending.
After you confirm, SMS sending is turned on for the country immediately. You can collect SMS opt-ins from that country, and SMS messages can be sent to those contacts from your Email Campaigns and Automation Workflows.
Turn Off SMS Sending for a Country
SMS sending is turned off by default for high-risk countries. If you have manually enabled sending for a country, you can go back and disable it from Store Settings → SMS.
Step 1. Go to Settings → SMS. Find the SMS sending by country section.
Step 2. Turn off the toggle in the country’s row.
SMS sending is turned off immediately for that country.
Reduce the Risk of SMS Pumping
Turning off a country prevents SMS messages from being sent there. Adding reCAPTCHA to your Signup Forms can help prevent automated signups before they create SMS activity.
If you collect phone numbers through a Signup Form, review its security settings and enable CAPTCHA when you notice suspicious signup activity.
💬 Learn more: Set Up Google reCAPTCHA for Your Signup Forms.
FAQ
Why is SMS sending turned off for some countries?
Omnisend turns off sending by default when a country has a higher risk of fraudulent or automated traffic. This helps reduce unexpected SMS costs.
Can I turn SMS sending to a country myself?
Yes. You can enable sending for any listed country from Store settings → SMS → SMS sending by country.
Can I turn sending off to a country after having enabled it?
Yes. Return to Store settings → SMS → SMS sending by country and turn off the toggle for the country.
Does the list of high-risk countries stay the same?
No. The list may change as fraud patterns change.
Have any questions? Our Support Team is available 24/7. You can find us via in-app chat or [email protected].