# MSG-045 — Samples must not impersonate another organisation

> Sample messages must not impersonate or misrepresent another business, bank, government agency, or technology company.

- **Rule ID:** MSG-045
- **Layer:** Message content (`MESSAGE_CONTENT`)
- **Checks:** `campaign.sample[] + campaign.description`
- **Severity:** BLOCKING — Breaking this rule gets the submission rejected outright.
- **When it bites:** Gates approval — get this wrong and registration is refused
- **How it is detected:** AI judgement over the submitted form
- **Fix type:** Hard stop — not remediable, resubmission will not help
- **Required by:** CTIA, T-Mobile, Twilio, TCR, FTC
- **Applies:** Applies to every 10DLC registration.
- **Canonical URL:** https://ekas.io/rules/10dlc/message-content/msg-045/

## Why this rule exists

Impersonation is a Severity-0 finding that stops all messaging on the programme, and it attracts per-message violation fees rather than a rejection you can fix. It is also the category carriers escalate fastest, because it maps directly onto fraud.

## How to fix it

Remove any content implying you are, or are authorised by, another organisation. Send only under your own registered brand identity.