Phone texts are essential to our daily lives. However, with their convenience comes an unwanted side effect: spam texts. These annoying messages can mess up your inbox, waste time, and pose security risks.
If you’re tired of dealing with spam texts, this guide will help you understand what they are, how they get to you, and, most importantly, how to stop spam texts.
What Are Spam Texts?
Spam texts, also known as SMS spam, are unsolicited messages sent to your phone. These messages can come from companies, scammers, or even individuals looking to advertise products, services, or fraudulent schemes.
Unlike email spam, which is often filtered into junk folders, spam texts usually appear directly in your messaging app, making them harder to ignore.
Spam texts can range from harmless advertisements to dangerous phishing attempts. Some may try to trick you into sharing personal information, such as your bank details or social security number, by pretending to be a legitimate entity. Others might simply be annoying promotions that you never signed up for.
Why Am I Getting Spam Texts?
Understanding why you’re receiving spam texts is the first step in stopping them. There are several common reasons why your number might be targeted:
Online Purchases and Sign-Ups
When you make an online purchase or sign up for a service, you often provide your phone number. Some companies may sell your number to third parties, leading to spam.
Public Listings
If your phone number is listed publicly, for example on a website or social media profile, spammers can easily find it and start sending messages.
Data Leakage
In some cases, your phone number may be leaked through a data breach, where hackers steal information from companies and sell it to spammers.
Random Guessing
Some spammers use automated systems to send messages to random numbers, hoping to reach a real person.
4 Signs of Identifying Spam Texts
Before you can stop spam texts, it’s important to know how to recognize them. Here are some common signs of spam text:
1. Unknown Sender
If you receive a message from a number you don’t recognize, it could be spam.
2. Too Good to Be True
Offers that seem too good to be true, like winning a lottery you didn’t enter, are usually scams.
3. Urgency and Threats
Messages that create a sense of urgency, such as “Act now or lose your account,” are often phishing attempts.
4. Links
Spam texts often include links to websites. These links may lead to harmful sites designed to steal your information.
How to Stop Spam Texts
Now that you know what spam texts are and why you might be getting them, let’s look at how you can stop them. Here are some effective steps you can take:
1. Block the Number
The simplest way to stop receiving texts from a specific sender is to block their number. Most smartphones allow you to do this easily:
iPhone:
Open the message, tap the sender’s name or number at the top, and select “Block this Caller.”
Android:
Open the message, tap the three dots in the top-right corner, and choose “Block number.”
Blocking a number will prevent that sender from contacting you again, but keep in mind that spammers often use multiple numbers, so you may still receive texts from different sources.
2. Report the Spam
Reporting spam texts to your carrier or a government agency can help stop the spammers. Here’s how:
Carrier reporting:
Most major carriers allow you to report spam texts by forwarding the message to a specific number (e.g., 7726, which spells “SPAM”). This helps them identify and block spam sources.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
In the United States, you can report spam texts to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. This can lead to legal action against the spammers.
3. Use a Spam Filter
Many smartphones come with built-in spam filters that can help detect and block unwanted messages. You can also download third-party apps for additional protection:
iPhone:
Go to Settings > Messages > Unknown & Spam and enable “Filter Unknown Senders.”
Android:
Some Android phones have built-in spam protection, but you can also install apps like “Truecaller” or “Hiya” for extra security.
These filters analyze incoming messages and automatically block those that seem suspicious.
4. Be Careful with Your Number
One of the best ways to prevent spam texts is to be careful with where you share your phone number. Here are some tips:
- Don’t share publicly: Avoid posting your phone number on social media or public websites.
- Opt-Out: When signing up for services or making online purchases, look for options to opt out of marketing communications.
- Use a secondary number: If you frequently sign up for services that require a phone number, consider using a secondary number or a temporary one to protect your primary number.
5. Contact Your Carrier
If you’re overwhelmed with spam texts, contacting your mobile carrier can be a good option. Many carriers offer additional services to block spam messages:
- AT&T: AT&T offers a service called “AT&T Call Protect” that can block spam texts and calls.
- Verizon: Verizon’s “Call Filter” service helps identify and block spam messages.
- T-Mobile: T-Mobile offers “Scam Shield,” which provides free scam blocking and caller ID services.
These services often come with your plan, but some may require an additional fee.
FAQs – How to Stop Spam Texts
1. Are Spam Texts Illegal?
Yes, in many cases, spam texts are illegal. Regulations like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the United States prohibit sending unsolicited texts without consent. Fines range from $500 per violation to $1,500 per willful violation.
2. Is a VPN Helpful for Preventing Spam Texts??
A VPN like LightningX VPN doesn’t directly prevent spam texts. However, it enhances your overall security and privacy by encrypting your internet transmission tunnel and masking your IP address.
This reduces the risk of your personal information, including your phone number, being exposed, indirectly helping to minimize spam text targeting.
Conclusion
Spam texts are a terrible reality of modern communication. Nevertheless, with the right measures, you can minimize their impact. Knowing what spam texts are and how to stop spam texts, you can take control of your message boxes and enjoy a more spam-free life.
