Overwhelmed with spam texts? Do this now
Ever replied to a spam message with STOP or UNSUBSCRIBE? If so, you’re setting yourself up for even more annoyance. You rightfully think that you’re ending the noise, but you’ll make it worse.
Why? Spammers are hitting up as many people as possible, searching for working contact information. When you interact, you’re saying, “Yes, this phone number belongs to someone!” That’s great news for them. It lets them know you’re a real person they should target more often.
Instead, take these steps:
- For an email: Mark as spam, then hit delete.
- For a text: Block the phone number and mark the message as spam. Then, hit the delete button.
You can also forward spam texts to 7726 (that spells “SPAM”). You’ll get back a message from your carrier asking you to reply with the phone number that sent the offending text. It only takes a minute and can help stop some spam campaigns.
If you have an iPhone:
- Find the spam message. Press down on it until a menu pops up.
- Press More. Then, tap on the arrow icon.
- Now, you’ll see a forwarded message. Tap on the To: field. Then, enter 7726 and send the message.
If you use an Android phone:
- Hold down on the spam message.
- Hit the forward arrow.
- Send the message to 7726.
Want to be a superhero?
Go beyond the call of duty, contact the FTC and file a formal complaint. While this step requires more time and effort, it’s an excellent way to fight against spammers. Consider it your good deed for the day.
Go further and get your number out of their hands for good
Take back control of your online privacy
Newsflash: Your data is constantly being collected and sold. “Gee, thanks, Kim. I know,” you might be thinking. “What do I do about it?” Lucky for you, I spend a lot of time trying to answer that exact question.
If you’re tired of spam calls, unwanted emails and that nasty feeling of always being tracked, keep reading. I’ve got a simple way to take a massive chunk out of this data collection mess, thanks to our sponsor, Incogni.
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That’s why it’s important to be proactive and stop these calls dead in their tracks. You have several clever ways to keep scams and robocalls at bay. Tap or click here to stop robocalls for good. How are these callers getting ahold of your number in the first place?