Are you often interrupted by a slew of random text messages? Spam texts are not only irritating; they can expose you to malware, identity theft, and other threats. Read our guide to learn how to stop spam text messages. Then, install a powerful mobile security app to help avoid the dangers of spam and block the malicious links they often carry.
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It may be illegal to send unsolicited spam or commercial text messages to your wireless device, but that doesn’t stop scammers from trying to get your attention through unwanted texts.
Knowing how to identify spam texts and stop them from showing up on your device is crucial, because engaging can leave you vulnerable to online attacks like phishing and malware. And if you confirm or share personal information with spammers, it can lead to more attacks in the future.
Here’s how to identify spam texts, avoid falling victim, and block spam from reaching your phone in the first place.
1. Know thesigns of a spam text
After receiving a text from anunknown number, keep an eye outfor these red flags to determine if it’s spam:
- It’s random and confusing: Many spam textsmay come out of left field and have no relation to anything currently going onin your life. If that’s the case, ignore and report the text.
- It contains suspicious links:Hoping to steal your personal information, scammers may try to trick you into clicking a link within their spam text. These links may contain different types of malware. As a best practice, never click any links from unknown sources.
- It’s accompanied by phone calls: Sometimes, spam texts are accompanied byphone callsfrom scammerspretending to be customer service representatives. During these calls, they maybe rude and try to make you feel embarrassed. Scammers use thissneaky tacticto get sensitiveinformation out of you.
If the text you receive matches any of these descriptions,treating it as spam is best, as interacting with it could put you and yourphone at risk.
2. Don’t responddirectly to a spam text
Directly replying to a spam text message lets a spammer know that your number is genuine. After you reply, they can sell your phone number to other spammers who might bombard you with false promises of free gifts and product offers. Instead, it's best to block and report the number.
3. Don’t click onany suspicious links
Clicking on a link in a spam text could install malware ontoyour phone or take you tospoof sitesthat look realbut are designed to steal your information. If your phone gets hacked, you maynotice a decrease in your phone’s battery life and performance. Once thespammer has your information, they cansell it tomarketersor identity thieves.
If you accidentally click a link in a spam message, be sure toclose out of the window immediately. If you notice any files downloaded in yourweb browser, delete them without opening them.
4. Block phonenumbers
By blocking a phone number, you can ensure that you neverreceive any spam texts or robocalls from that number again. Follow the steps belowto learn how to block spam texts on both aniPhoneandAndroiddevice.
To start blocking text messages on an iPhone:
- Tap the phone number at the top of your screen.
- Press the Info button.
- Select “Block This Caller.”
- Press “Block Contact.”
To begin blocking spam texts on an Android:
- Press the three-dot icon at the top right corner of your screen.
- Select “Block Number” or “Details,” then “Block & ReportSpam” (depending on your specific device).
- Tap “Block & Report Spam.”
- Select “OK.”
Keep in mind that many text spammers use multiple numbers, soyou may keep getting spam texts from different phone numbers.
5. Report phonenumbers to your carrier
Now that you know how to block text messages, it's alsobeneficial to report the number as spam to your carrier. You can do this byforwarding the message to 7726 or SPAM. Once you’ve forwarded the message, yourcell phone carrier can investigate the text and number.
Forwarding a text to 7726 works for most cellular providers,including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
6. Enable spam filters
Another way to help ensure a spammer never makes it into yourinbox is by using spam filters. Both iPhones and Android phones have their ownspam filter you can enable.
To filter out spam texts on an iPhone:
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down to Messages.
- Turn on “Filter Unknown Senders.”
To filter out spam numbers on an Android:
- Go to Messages and tap the three-dot icon in the top rightcorner of your screen.
- Select “Details.”
- Tap “App Settings.”
- Select “Spam Protection.”
- Turn on “Enable Spam Protection.”
Once you’ve enabled your phone’s built-in spam protection, youreduce the risk of accidentally interacting with a spam text.
7. Be careful whereyou share your phone number
While surfing the web, it’s crucial that you treat your personalinformation as if it's your most prized possession. Many scammers aim togain as much information about someone as possible for fraudulent purposes.
To avoid your personal information getting into the wrong hands,do not give out your phone number or any other personal information to anunknown or untrusted source. This can help reduce the risk of receiving anyunwanted texts.
8. Use third-partyspam protection apps
Most major carriers offer call-blocking services or plans thatlet you block phone numbers from unknown callers for a specific time period.You can also see if third-party text scam blocker apps and services can work withyour carrier’s wireless service.
Some third-party call blocking apps* include:
Using these third-party apps may provide an additional barrierbetween text scammers and your inbox.
9. List your numberon the National Do Not Call Registry
Wondering how to stop unwanted texts and spam calls? Adding yourphone number to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC)National Do Not Call Registrylets you opt outof most telemarketing calls. If you receive an unwanted call after your numberhas been on the registry for 31 days, you canreport itto the FTC.
How to stop spamtexts on iPhone
One of the most important steps you can take to combat textscammers is to report their messages as spam. To report spam on an iPhone:
- Press and hold the message you’d like to report.
- Select “More.”
- Tap the arrow on the bottom right corner of your screen.
- Forward the junk text to 7726.
Then, sit back and let your cellular provider do the rest.Reporting spam texts is a great way to help keep you and others safe from textscammers.
But even if you're vigilant about blocking and reporting spam on your iPhone, new spam text messages can still get through. To help stop that from happening, you need a dedicated iPhone security app. Norton Mobile Security for iOS can help protect you against phishing attacks, malicious downloads, and other threats that can be shuttled to your phone through spam texts.
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How to stop spamtexts on Android devices
You can also report a text as spam on your Android device. To doso:
- Select the three-dot icon at the top right of your screen.
- Select “Forward.”
- Forward the spam message to 7726.
Reporting spam texts is a great spam prevention tool. But what about the new spam texts that scammers create? With Norton Mobile Security for Android, you’ll get an extra layer of spam protection. Our SMS filtering feature detects phishing and malicious links hidden in spam texts, helping to ensure you don’t fall victim to spammers’ dangerous scams.
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When it comes to text messages and security, using a littlecommon sense and making the most of your phone’s and carrier’sprivacyfeatures canhelp you handle spam messages more efficiently. Now that you know how to stopspam texts, be sure you cover all yourcybersecuritybases by takingthe necessary precautions toprotect yourselfonline.
FAQs aboutstopping spam texts
There’s nothing to fear if you still have questions aboutblocking spam texts. We’ll likely have the answers you’re looking forbelow.
Why am I gettingspam texts?
If you start receiving spam texts, someone is likely trying toget ahold of your personal information. Because of this, it’s crucial that youblock and report the number without responding.
What is 7726 andhow does it work?
The code 7726 offers a quick and easy way to forward spam textmessages to your cell phone carrier's spam department or team, so they can thentake action against spammers. The code is easy to remember because it spells"spam."
When you forward a text to 7726, it alerts your cell phonecarrier of a spam problem. After cell phone carriers receive spam reports at7726, they ask you for more information and then launch an investigation intothe spam sender.
What happensafter I report a spam text to 7726?
Reporting spam to 7726 allows your cell phone carrier to investigateand take action to try to stop the sender from spamming you and othercustomers. Actions may include:
- Blocking a sender's phone number
- Blocking a specific type of message content
- Sharing the scammer’s information with other cell phone carriers
- Getting fraudulent phone numbers, email addresses, and websitesshut down
To ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep yourself andothers safe, it’s best to always report any suspicious messages to 7726.
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