The Ultimate Guide to Blocking Spam Texts on Your Phone
Understanding the Types of Spam Texts You Receive
Before you can effectively block spam texts, it’s important to understand the different types of messages you may receive. Some common types of spam texts include:
Phishing scams – these are messages that try to trick you into revealing personal or sensitive information, such as your bank account or social security number.
Smishing scams – similar to phishing scams, smishing scams try to trick you into providing personal information, but they are sent through text messages rather than email.
Spam offers – these texts may offer you fake deals or promotions, such as “winning” a free gift card or entering a contest.
Malware links – these texts may contain links that, if clicked, can download harmful malware or viruses onto your device.
By understanding the types of spam texts you may receive, you can better identify and block them from reaching your inbox.
Setting up Built-in Filters and Block Lists on Your Phone
Most modern smartphones come equipped with built-in tools for filtering and blocking unwanted texts. To set up these features on your phone, follow these steps:
iPhone: Go to Settings > Messages > Unknown & Spam, and toggle on “Filter Unknown Senders” to filter out messages from people not in your contacts. You can also block individual numbers by going to the text conversation, tapping the “i” icon, and selecting “Block this Caller.”
Android: Open the Messages app, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and go to Settings > Spam protection. Toggle on “Block suspected spam” to automatically filter out known spam numbers, and add individual numbers to your block list by long-pressing on the conversation and selecting “Block.”
By using these built-in features, you can greatly reduce the number of spam texts you receive.
Downloading Third-Party Apps for Advanced Spam Blocking
In addition to using built-in filters and block lists, you may want to consider downloading third-party apps for more advanced spam blocking features. Some popular options include:
RoboKiller: This app uses machine learning algorithms to identify and block spam calls and texts, and even includes a “Answer Bots” feature that can waste scammers’ time with automated responses.
Hiya: Hiya blocks spam calls and texts, and can also identify unknown callers and provide information on whether they are likely to be spam.
Truecaller: Truecaller has a community-based spam list that is constantly updated to help identify and block unwanted calls and texts.
These apps typically require a subscription fee, but can provide more robust spam blocking features than the built-in options on your phone.
Reporting Spam Texts to Your Carrier or Authorities
If you continue to receive spam texts even after using filters and blocking features, it’s important to report them to your carrier and/or authorities. Reporting spam texts can help your carrier identify and block the spammer, as well as protect other users from similar messages. Here are some steps you can take to report spam texts:
Forward the spam text to your carrier: Most carriers have a number you can forward spam texts to in order to report them. Contact your carrier’s customer service to find out the correct number to use.
Report the spam to the FTC: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) collects complaints about unwanted text messages as part of their efforts to combat spam. You can file a complaint with the FTC online at ftc.gov/complaint.
Report the spam to the FCC: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also collects complaints about unwanted texts and calls. You can file a complaint with the FCC online at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.
By reporting spam texts, you can help prevent them from reaching others and hold spammers accountable for their actions.
Best Practices for Preventing Future Spam Texts
While filtering, blocking, and reporting can all help reduce the number of spam texts you receive, there are also some best practices you can follow to prevent future spam:
Don’t respond to spam texts: Responding to spam texts can confirm to the sender that your number is active, and may lead to more spam in the future.
Avoid clicking links in text messages: Clicking on links in spam texts can download harmful malware onto your device.
Be careful when giving out your phone number: Only provide your phone number to trusted sources, and avoid giving it out on public websites or forums.
Check privacy settings on social media: Some spam texts are generated based on information collected from social media accounts. Review your privacy settings to make sure you’re not sharing more information than you intend.
By following these best practices, you can help prevent future spam texts and protect your personal information.
