One Simple Setting Can Block Most Scam Texts. Are You Using It?
Are you tired of receiving spam texts from scammers and spammers?
If your phone is anything like mine was, you receive several messages every day packed with offers for tax preparation assistance, back tax relief, multiple "stim checks," a variety of free gifts, and numerous request confirmations. These phishing messages are the siren songs of scammers and spammers attempting to lure new victims into clicking a link, opening an attachment, calling a number, or installing malware. Luckily, just as you can fight against robocalls and unwanted email, you can block and stop robotexts using the right tricks and tools.
Turn On Built-In Message Filters
It's not always easy to tell if a message is legit. That's why it's a good idea to turn on your phone's messaging filters. In iOS, go to Settings > Apps > Messages, and scroll down to the Message Filtering section. Enabling this setting sorts text messages from unknown senders into a separate folder, allowing you to safely ignore them. On Android devices, Google automatically sorts messages from unknown senders into folders labeled Spam or Unknown.
Stay Skeptical When Reading Messages
Stay skeptical when reading messages from numbers that aren't in your phone's contact list. The logic is, if the phone number is one that you've consciously saved, even if it's your doctor's office, or your kids' schools, it's more likely to be a message meant just for you. If you don't recognize the number, or it isn't a phone number you've saved, read the message with caution, and don't tap or click any links.
Never Respond to Suspicious Texts
If you receive a spam text, do not respond, not even to tell it to stop. Many legitimate robotexts include an option to text 'STOP' to request that the company remove you from their distribution list, but this option is ineffective against scammers.
Block Numbers—Even If Spammers Hop Around
You can block a number that's been sending you junk messages. However, this is only helpful if the same number continues to send the texts. Spammers typically spoof or switch phone numbers, so even if you block the number, you can still receive messages from the same spammer using a different number. Still, it's worth trying.
Report Robotexts Directly to Your Carrier
You can report a robotext to your mobile carrier by forwarding it to a specific number. To do this on an iPhone, press down on the offending message. Tap More and then tap the right arrow to forward it as a new text. To do this on an Android phone, press and hold the message, tap the three-dot icon at the top, and then select Forward.
Enable Your Phone's Spam-Protection Tools
On an Android phone, you can disable all potential spam messages from Google's Messages app. Tap the profile icon in the upper right of the app and select Messages Settings > Spam protection. Turn on the Enable spam protection switch, and your phone will now alert you if an incoming message is suspected of being spam.
Boost Protection With Third-Party Apps
If you require more robust robotext filtering than what is mentioned above, you may want to consider a third-party app. Options like SpamHound, SMS Spam Stopper, RoboKiller, and TextKiller can help you block more spammers.
