Australia’s communications regulator has ordered a recall of Anko-branded long-range walkie-talkies sold at Kmart and Target after saying the devices were programmed to use radio frequencies that require a licence in Australia. The alert was issued for a product that was still on sale as recently as early February.

The walkie-talkies, sold in packs of two and advertised with a talking range of up to 500 metres, were available online and in Kmart and Target stores across the country from September to February. The Australian Communications and Media Authority said the item needs to be recalled and told customers to stop using it immediately.

That warning matters because the devices were set to operate on 467.425 MHz, a band used by licenced services. In its current state, ACMA said, the product may interfere with those services and cause unintended disruption. The unlicenced use of the walkie-talkie may also contravene the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

The recall centres on a familiar retail product that many buyers would have treated as harmless household gear. But the issue here is not the brand name on the box or the size of the range claim. It is the frequency programming inside the unit, which places the product outside the rules for consumer use in Australia and turns a simple communications device into a regulatory problem.

Customers have been told to return the product to a local Kmart or Target store for a full refund. Kmart Australia can be reached on 1800 124 125, and its hotline is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm AEST. Target can be reached on 1300 753 567, with the same weekday hours.

For shoppers, the next step is straightforward: stop using the walkie-talkies and take them back. For regulators, the case is a reminder that a product can be widely sold, heavily promoted and still fail on a basic legal test that only becomes visible when the radio spectrum itself is put at risk.