Getting more spam text messages? How to avoid and report the latest schemes
Spammers are sending fake messages on behalf of companies to steal your information. Here's what you should know.
- Bridget has spent over 18 years as a consumer tech reporter, hosting daily tech news shows and writing syndicated newspaper columns. She's often a guest on national radio and television stations, including ABC, CBS, CNBC and NBC.
If you're getting random messages from "AT&T" to claim a free perk or "FedEx" with alerts for an incomplete delivery, you may be tempted to click the link for more information. Don't do it. These messages may seem real, especially if you have service with the provider that seems to be messaging you.
But before you get excited about your "reward," there are a few red flags to watch out for. Paying attention to these warning signs can protect your personal data and lower your risk of fraud from scam texts. Scammers are using trusted company names, links and urgency to steal your information after you click the link in a text message. The messages are expected to continue, even though wireless carriers submitted plans to stop robocalls. But that doesn't include the workaround for spammers to send texts. In fact, Robokiller's August report predicts 86 billion spam texts to be sent this year.
It's scary to think about accidentally clicking the link or responding "STOP" (which you should be careful doing). One wrong move can be what criminals need to steal your data. But don't worry. We'll tell you what you can do now to help keep your personal data secure. Here's the latest on the Federal Communications Commission's plans to stop robocalls and how to use Apple's Hide My Email feature to keep your email free of spam. This story was recently updated.
First, never open the link
Scammers are tricky. They'll send messages that appear to be from a legitimate company, such as your wireless carrier, bank or medical facility, and include a link asking you to verify your account information. The link then takes you to a site that may look real, but is actually fake. The object is to collect your username, password and other personal information for future use.
If you receive an unexpected message that includes a link, do not open it. If you happen to open it, do not enter any account details or personal information.
Look at this fake Verizon site that was being used in phishing attempts, as covered by How To Geek. The site looks real and even redirects to the official Verizon site after the nefarious actors have taken your account credentials. Scary stuff.
Don't click on links in spam messages, and do some research before replying 'stop.'
Do research before replying with STOP
One common method of opting out of receiving non-nefarious spam texts (like that restaurant offering the free milkshake) is to reply to the message with "STOP." It can be a quick and easy way to end messages from everything from a political campaign to your internet service provider.
But scammers use this same tool to trick you into replying to their messages, in turn letting them know that your phone number is valid and one they can target with more messages or robocalls.
Instead of quickly replying STOP to an unsolicited message, take a few seconds to look up the number online to see if a recognized organization or business uses it for text messages.
I verified Comcast's number, for example, by searching for "text from 266278" after receiving a message a few weeks ago asking if I wanted updates about an outage in my area. Indeed, the number I received the message from matched a number Comcast lists on its support page.
If you verify that a number is valid, reply with STOP to remove yourself from their distribution list.
Report scam messages to your carrier.
Report a bad message to your carrier
If you can't verify who sent a message, or it's clearly a scam, you can forward the message to 7726 (it spells "spam" on a phone's keypad).
AT&T, Sprint , T-Mobile and Verizon all accept spam reports through this number. You may receive a follow-up message after reporting a message, asking for more information or to confirm the number the original message was sent from.
Some carriers, such as Sprint, will even block the number from messaging you after you've reported it.
Use your phone's built-in blocking tool
Another option is to block the number yourself. Both iOS and Android have built-in tools to block messages and calls from specific numbers.
You can always block the number.
iPhone users
On an iPhone, open the message in the Messages app and tap on the profile photo at the top, then tap on the Info button. On the next screen, tap on the phone number, followed by Block this Caller at the bottom of the next screen.
Following those steps will block the number from both messaging and calling you.
Google Messages will take extra steps to analyze and identify spam.
iOS users can also filter out unknown senders to automatically sort through unknown numbers by toggling on the Filter Unknown Senders in your settings for Messages.
Android users
As is usually the case with Android phones , the process to block a number will vary depending on who makes your phone and which message app you're using.
If you're using Google's Messages app, start by opening the spam message, then tapping on the menu button in the top-right corner and selecting Details from the list of options. On the following screen, select Block & report spam followed by OK. The Messages app will send the number and the 10 previous messages from it to Google for analysis to improve future spam detection. Your replies to the number are not sent to Google. If you'd rather just block the number, uncheck the box next to "Report spam" before tapping OK.
Samsung Messages users will need to open the conversation, tap on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner and select Block number > Block.
If you are routinely annoyed, file a report with the FCC.
Download an app block spam messages
There are a few apps that can limit spam text messages. TextKiller is an app powered by Robokiller to automatically filter out messages that would be considered spam using Smart Blocking. The app now also works with Apple Watches to help filter spam messages. You can also add phone numbers and keywords that you want to block.
File an FCC complaint to help stop spam texts
If you want to help combat current and future spam messages, and you're in the US, you can file a complaint with the FCC whenever you receive a message that falls into one of these categories:
- An unsolicited commercial text message
- An automated message sent to your phone without your prior consent
- An automated message from a telecommunications company, or another company advertising a telecommunications company's products or services sent without your prior consent
Visit this site to file a complaint with the FCC. It won't immediately stop messages from arriving on your phone, but it will at least help the FCC track down bad actors.
Just as you don't have to deal with spam messages, you don't have to deal with robocalls either. You won't be able to put an end to them for good, but you can at least cut back on the number of times your phone rings. And remember, there are plenty of red flags when it comes to coronavirus scams, so make sure you know them all. While you're at it, take a few minutes to secure your wireless account to prevent SIM swap fraud.
Originally published last year. Updated with new information.