How To Stop and Report Spam Texts on iPhone or Android
Scammers send spam text messages to everybody and everyone in the hopes of getting a response. Text spam isn’t only annoying; it can also take over your phone and endanger your personal information. Learn how to block spam numbers, report spam texts, and how free antivirus software may safeguard your smartphone from spam text threats.
What are spam texts (SMS)?
Spam text messages are unsolicited text messages that are sent to your phone. Spam texts are frequently received from unknown numbers and frequently promote a product or service. However, spam may also be phishing, designed to fool victims into disclosing sensitive information or clicking on harmful links.
Spam communications can be sent automatically by robots using email or instant messaging services. Responding to “STOP” should stop spam SMS sent by reputable businesses. On the other hand, replying to a legitimate scammer will not help – once they realise you’re a real person, they’ll likely spam you even more.
Table of Contents
Here are some tips for teaching you how to stop spam texts:
Don’t
- Reply.
- Click any links or buttons.
- Forward messages with links (the link “expands” when forwarded, telling the scammer you’re real).
- Put your phone number into online forms unless required.
- Call 1800 numbers without hiding your number first.
Do
- Report spam texts (remove any links first).
- Inform your mobile service provider.
- Use call-blocking or text-blocking apps.
- Filter unknown senders through your phone’s settings.
- Block contacts that spam you.
- Download antivirus software as spam insurance.
These are only the fundamental stages; there is much more to learn if you truly want to know how to avoid spam messages from fraudsters.
How to stop spam texts?
To block spam text messages on Android, open the Phone app and select Menu (three dots). Select unknown senders, recent calls, or your contact list from the Settings > Block numbers menu.
To block spam messages on your iPhone, go to Settings > Messages > Message Filtering. Filter Unknown Senders should be enabled.
Filtering unknown senders on an iPhone functions similarly to the Junk folder in your email. These numbers will not send you notifications, and their spam messages will be sent to a different SMS folder. Spam SMS can avoid detection by slightly modifying their numbers, although certain third-party apps can detect spam texts by blocking the country code.
Directly from the spam text you receive, or through the messaging settings on your phone, you may ban or report spam numbers.
Methods for reporting spam messages
Reporting spam messages and stopping the spammers in their tracks are effective ways to stop them. You may report spam texts in four different ways: by forwarding them to 7726, on your messaging app, to your wireless carrier, or by reporting them to the FTC (in the US).
- To report spam messages through text, copy the message contents, remove any links, and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This works in the US because forwarding spam to 7726 sends it directly to AT&T’s spam defence team.
- To report spam text through your messaging app, look for an option to report junk or spam. You can usually find this option by opening a recent text or call from the suspected spam number.
- To report spam texts through the FTC, go to their Report Fraud website and provide as much information as possible about the spam messages and numbers.
- To report spam texts through your wireless providers — such as AT&T, Verizon, or Virgin Mobile — go to the Cellular Communication and Internet Association (CTIA) website. There, you’ll find tips on how to block spam texts for specific carriers.
Report spam in Australia
Forward SMS or MMS spam to us at 0429 999 888. Standard message charges apply. Forward email spam to report@submit.spam.acma.gov.au. Don’t change the subject line or add any text.
Report spam in New Zealand
Forward the spam message from your phone free of charge to our shortcode: 7726. You will receive a TXT response from us (the Department of Internal Affairs) asking you to complete your report.
Report spam texts as soon as you notice them. Not only can you avoid receiving spam SMS by reporting it, but it can also benefit others.
The scammer is likely employing a fake phone number, which is a sort of attack known as spoofing that allows crooks to hide from cyberpolice even if reporting spam is helpful.
While learning to report text spam, safeguard yourself from fraud by being knowledgeable about identity theft. Contrary to popular belief, spam messages and online crime are closely related. And think about what actions you could be taking that could result in spam SMS and jeopardise your identity’s security online.
Why am I getting spam texts?
Because someone is attempting to obtain your personal information, you could be receiving spam SMS. Alternatively, a data breach or your online sharing of your phone number might have caused the spam. Of course, the organisation sending the spam could have worked with you in the past and still possesses your phone number.
You may receive spam SMS for the following reasons:
- Your number was generated randomly by a robot.
- A social media or another type of company sold your number.
- Your number was exposed in a data breach.
- You entered your phone number into a sketchy site.
- You replied to a spam text, exposing your number to other spammers.
- You reported a spam text or forwarded it without removing the link and accidentally validated your number as active.
- You called 1800, 800, 888, or 900 numbers, which allows telecommunications networks to use Automatic Number Identification (ANI) to identify you — and give your info away.
Once a single piece of information about you is public, scammers may easily follow you and launch many attacks against you, such as spam texts or emails.
Additionally, email phishing schemes aim to deceive you into providing your password, credit card number, or other private information. Learn how to filter spam emails by reading up on email security.
Text message scams: phishing text messages
Phishing SMS are spam messages that are sent out at random to large numbers of recipients. Phishing SMS “phish” recipients for information such as potential passwords or account information. Malware that infects your phone as soon as you open a link or reply is frequently linked to phishing messages.
Spear phishing targets bigger fish, such a CEO or certain businesses, by leveraging precise information about the victim in order to look trustworthy, in contrast to phishing schemes that throw wide nets in an attempt to capture anything, such as phishing SMS.
Learning the most typical scams will help you recognise spam texts from a mile away, along with some tips for avoiding spam.
The following list of typical text messaging scams:
- Low-interest credit card offers
- Debt or loan relief
- Offers to clean up your credit report
- Get rich quick or fast money schemes
- Congratulatory messages asking you to redeem a prize
- Government refund claims
- Alerts of suspicious activity on your account
- Claims of a payment problem
- Problems with a delivery or purchase
If you have reason to be wary, refrain from responding to texts. Visit the website you believe the spam text could be referring to to verify the message; chances are it’s a fraud. Use antivirus for iOS or Android to fully protect yourself from online threats.
How to block spam texts on iPhone
Even though Apple has a solid reputation for security, spam text messages on the iPhone may still be an issue. How to ban text messages on an iPhone is as follows:
1. Open a text from the spam sender you want to block. Tap the sender’s number and then tap Info.
2. Select Block this Caller and confirm by tapping Block Contact.
Additionally, you may block texts from unknown senders via iMessage. This is how:
1. Open iMessage settings and tap Messages.
2. Scroll to Message Filtering and tap Filter Unknown Sender so the toggle turns “Green”. You should now stop getting random text messages from unknown numbers.
On an iPhone, you may block SMS in this way. Check out a list of crucial iPhone security advice to help you stop receiving spam messages in the future, and discover how to conceal iPhone applications to further improve your online privacy.
If all else fails, spam-response iPhone applications can assist you in preventing spam.
The top iPhone applications for responding to spam
The prevalence of spam messages among mobile phone users has given rise to a whole industry of spam-blocking applications. Some of the top iPhone applications for handling spam are listed below:
Here are some tips for teaching you how to stop spam texts:Like an email spam filter, the free iPhone software Bouncer transfers spam to other folders. Unwanted texts are sent by bouncer to the junk, promotions, transactions, or any other folder you specify.
Pros
- Free
- Open-Source for privacy – no one has access to messages
- Simple Interface
- No Advertisement
Cons
- Don’t block the number; just hides the spam from it
- Supported languages are limited to English, Spanish, and Arabic
You may copy and paste spam texts that you get and transfer them to a junk folder by using the free app VeroSMS, which filters texts based on keywords.
Pros
- Free
- Crowdsources keywords by region to keep up with current spammer trends
- Auto-Block text with links from unknown senders
- You can add an unlimited number of words to allow or block lists.
Cons
- Don’t block numbers
- Filters spam as unread, which mixes in with other unread messages.
The main goal of TextKiller is to filter unwanted texts. It automatically separates spam from legitimate messages. You may also ban texts from a certain phone number, email address, or message type.
Pros
- Free, with in-app purchase
- Blocks text from emails or random numbers
- Blocks text based on keywords you add
- Strong developer support
Cons
- Some notifications get through an Apple Watch
- Spam texts sent to other folders need to be deleted manually.
Clickable links in spam SMS might infect your phone with malware. Learn how to remove spyware from an iPhone if you’re concerned that you may have unintentionally clicked a link or forwarded spam text that contained a link. Then, educate yourself on the best iPhone security applications to keep your family’s Apple devices and private information secure.
How to block spam texts on Android
Your data may be leaked through unsecured messaging apps or even sold outright. Use the top Android privacy apps to assist you in protecting your phone number’s confidentiality. If any spam manages to get through, here’s how to stop it on Android:
1. Open your Phone app, tap Menu (three dots), and select Settings.
2. Tap Block Numbers
3. Choose the Numbers(s) you want to block. You can block all unknown/private numbers, suspected spam numbers, and known contacts or add a specific phone number you want to block.
Some applications may also subtly get rights that enable data collection and sale to spammer ads. If you believe one of your applications is violating your privacy, learn how to utilise Android permissions wisely and disable background app data on your phone.
There can be too much spam. Thankfully, several Android applications can automatically delete spam SMS.
Best Android applications for responding to spam
Your phone may become infected with malware or ransomware if you reply to SMS or leave them open. Visit a guide to Android ransomware to avoid having your phone taken over. Alternatively, if you believe your phone is already compromised, discover how to remove malware from Android.
Here are the top Android applications for responding to spam SMS so you can keep your phone spam-free.
Texts may be blocked using the dependable texting software Textra. After learning about Textra, many users switch to using it exclusively due of its useful features, such as the option to customise the app’s appearance.
Pros
- Custom blocking options
- Clean, minimal interface – with dark mode
- Robust feature list, such as time-delayed messaging, quick replies (replying without leaving the app you’re in), and group messaging
- Free tier
Cons
- Only the paid tier unlocks all options
- Notifications can be buggy.
Robokiller is a text and call-based scam defence tool. By routeing scam calls to bots, Robokiller wastes their time, allowing you to get revenge while avoiding spam.
Pros
- Free trial
- Fun answer bots to play with
- Predictive blocking technology blocks spam text automatically
- Voiceprint remembers spam caller voices.
Cons
- Paid version for all features
- Sometimes real calls are blocked and you have to manually allow them.
Hiya Protect is a well-known tool for preventing spam. Even huge corporations like Verizon and AT&T utilise it to report and ban spam SMS since it is so dependable.
Pros
- Block text or calls by country code
- Free
- Simple interface
- Reliable – hundreds of thousands of reviews on Google Play.
Cons
- Does’t differantiate spam from ads and promotions
- Sometimes spam calls get through.
Many of the finest secure messaging applications feature spam-blocking options if the thought of installing an additional spam-blocking software makes you nervous. Most of them will encrypt your communications as well for more privacy, which helps prevent spammers from accessing your information in the future.
Block spam with AVG
Not only is spam irritating, but it may potentially damage your device. To prevent your phone from being infected by spammers’ harmful software, it’s crucial to utilise a cybersecurity app.
You are well-protected with AVG AntiVirus FREE. Phishing protection prohibits dangerous URLs from being sent in text messages, Email shield guards against spam emails, and real-time updates keep you secure from the newest spamming methods. With AVG, you can protect your phone against spam messages’ negative impacts.
Here are the top Android applications for responding to spam SMS so you can keep your phone spam-free.
