How to Report SPAM Text Messages

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Are You Drowning in SPAM?

SPAM messages are more than an inconvenience. Often, they are a way for criminals to phish for sensitive or private information for fraud or identity theft, and may even open up your mobile device to hacking and intrusion attacks. Despite stringent guidelines against SPAM by most carriers, the FTC reported that in 2018, it received over 90,000 SPAM message complaints. A spam text is essentially any unwanted message.

 

Common examples of SPAM include:

  • Mass ads
  • Questionable “special offers”
  • “Contest Winner” notifications for contests you did not enter
  • Messages from the IRS or law enforcement
  • Messages that appear to be from a bank or credit card

 

The FTC forbids marketers from sending unsolicited commercial text messages to consumers. To comply with government and carrier guidelines, marketers are required to secure “express consent” for the text messages they send to contacts. This is called an “Opt-In” process. If you didn’t give a company permission to send messages to you, the message you received might be SPAM.

How to Report SPAM Texts

iZigg Mobile advises customers and their contacts to never respond to SPAM texts, click links within SPAM texts, or call phone numbers included in the text message. Instead, we recommend reporting the SPAM message to the GSMA, FTC, or your mobile carrier.

Forward Messages to 7726 (“SPAM”)
This is the first step iZigg Mobile recommends. The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA) has designated 7726 (“SPAM”) for reporting spam texts. Most US mobile major carriers are GSMA members and participate in this program. To report a spam message, simply forward it to 7726. Sending to 7726 will never count against your plan. What happens next depends on your carrier. You may be asked to provide additional details.

Add Your Number to the Do Not Call Registry
Consumers can register their phone number on the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry free of charge at https://www.donotcall.gov/. Follow the link and select, “Register Your Phone.” Per the FTC, you can begin reporting SPAM calls and text messages after 31 days, using the same link.

Report Unsolicited Texts to the FTC and FCC
To report spam text messages to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), visit its new Fraud Reporting Site at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/. Select “Report Now,” then choose the topic of the unwanted text messages that you are receiving. You will be taken to a short form to report what you know about the message sender. The FTC also advises reporting and blocking SPAM on your phone.

Block or Report SPAM on Your Phone

You can report SPAM text messages through your phone’s messaging app. Apple iOS lets you block messages but does not have an onboard reporting tool. Simply open the SPAM text within the Messages app, tap the contact number, select info, then tap the gray arrow on the upper right of the screen. Scroll down and select “Block this caller.” Android users can both block and report SPAM texts. Just open the messages app, select and hold down the SPAM message, choose “Block,” then “Report Spam,” and finally, tap “OK.” 

iZigg Can Help You Avoid Sending Spam

iZigg Mobile helps our text messaging clients make sure their texts are compliant and relevant to their contacts’ interests. our robust features like advanced data collection and smart targeting can give you the confidence to now that your text messages are a welcome component of your brand relationship instead of SPAM. Reach out to us to learn more!

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