Spam texts can be very annoying. You get a notification, stop what you are doing to check your phone only to discover that someone is trying to sell you something you don’t need. How can you stop this?
Unfortunately, there are no measures against text spam. However, there are ways to minimize the number of spam messages delivered. Here are some strategies you can try.
DO NOT REPLY
Do not reply to spam texts and do not follow links in the messages. If you are unsure if the text is spam or legitimate, wait until you do a little research.
USE SPAM FILTERS ON YOUR PHONE
Android phones and iPhones have spam filtering features that you can turn on in the Settings.
For Android Users
- Open the Messages app.
- Click the three dots in the upper right corner.
- Go to “Settings” then “Spam Protection”.
- Make sure the “Enable Spam Protection” check box is selected.
- Finally, go to “Settings” then “Spam & Blocked” to see numbers you’ve flagged as spam.
For iPhone Users
Blocking Spam Texts on an iPhone is a little easier than for Android. It blocks phone numbers that you haven’t saved in your contact list and numbers that you haven’t called before. This can be a problem though, what if you’re expecting a call from, say, your insurance broker.
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and select Messages.
- Next, “Unknown & Spam”.
- Then enable “Filter Unknown Senders”
HOW TO STOP SPECIFIC TEXTS
If you receive spam messages from a particular number, you can simply block them from texting you back.
For Android Users
Often, when you tap a message that Android has flagged as suspicious, the operating system can flag it (or check for spam) as spam. However, if you receive unverified spam texts:
- Tap the three dots at the upper right corner.
- Next, select “Details” then “Block & Report Spam”
- If necessary, you can block this number or turn on “Report Spam” so that the number is sent to Google and your network service provider as well.
This process may differ depending on the Android phone you are using.
For iPhone Users
- Open the spam text.
- Next, select the “User” Icon at the top of the page.
- Tap the Info icon, then select Block this caller on the info button.
To report a received iMessage as spam, find and tap the “Report Junk” link below the message, tap Delete, then tap “Report Junk”. This number is not automatically blocked. This must be done separately.
We hope that a combination of the previous tips can significantly reduce the amount of spam you receive. However, if you need more help, you can use an anti-spam app.
Apps like RoboKiller, available for iPhone and Android, can significantly reduce the amount of spam received in the form of phone calls and text messages. However, this app is not free. RoboKiller has a 7-day free trial that costs $ 5 per month or $ 40 per year.
