Scroll down to Filter Unknown Senders and toggle the setting on. You can help eliminate spam messages and robotexts by filtering out spam on your mobile device.įiltering out spam on an iPhone is simple. It’s so obscure you probably never thought of it. If you receive unwanted commercial text messages, file a complaint using the FTC complaint assistant. The only two exceptions to this law are transactional or relationship type messages, or non-commercial messages such as political surveys or fundraising messages. This act includes text messages to your cellphone, and it’s further unlawful to send unwanted texts from an auto-dialer. You can use this method if you are a Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, or Bell subscriber.Īccording to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), it is illegal to send unsolicited commercial email messages to wireless devices without your consent.
Copy and forward the original text to 7726 (SPAM), free of charge. Reporting a robotext or spam message to your cellular carrier is a great step to take in the fight against robotexts and spam messages. Choose or manually enter a number you wish to block. You will find several options including unknown callers, recent call, or from your contact list. On an Android, open your phone app and tap on the three-dot icon in the upper right corner and choose Settings. Under the Details screen, click on the phone number, choose Block this Caller and Block Contact. On an iPhone, open the text from the number you wish to block and tap on the sender’s number. Also, remember that the same operation may try texting you from a different number. That said, precise instructions may vary according to the manufacturer, model and operating system of your mobile device. A quick Google search can usually confirm that a textable number is legit.īlocking numbers is easy to do. Be careful, though: Scammers use this same technique to lure you into replying STOP to their messages, which can help verify you and your number. Many legitimate companies offer you the chance to opt out of receiving messages from them. The more we resist robotexts, the less likely their success. There are several tactics for fighting back, and doing so helps everyone. Whatever you do, do not reply and do not click anything in the text. Receiving unwanted messages is just one of the sacrifices of having one. Robotexts are common now, and many people treat them as a necessary evil.
Who's calling: This is where robocalls are coming from – and where they target How to block robocalls and spam messages Hanging up: FTC shuts down four telemarketers responsible for billions of illegal robocalls
You didn’t do it. Many telemarketing firms rely on automatic dialing devices that are capable of discovering and dialing all landline and cellphone numbers, including those that are unlisted.
Whatever the reason, you willingly hand over your cell number, and that allows for your number to end up in the wrong hands. You fill out a sign-up form, contest entry, or enroll in an in-store rewards program. You did it. There many valid reasons that you’d give your number to companies. In addition to identifying and storing your number, the ANI system can match it with other digital data associated with you. You called an 800, 888 or 900 number. When you call phone numbers with these prefixes, your cellphone number is collected by an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) system. If your phone number is public on social media, assume it’s in various marketing company’s databases.
Sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google keep track of your online activity and provide that information to advertisers.