#SPAM TEXTS ANDROID#
On my Android device, I opened the Messages app, tapped the three dots inside the search bar, then went to Settings -> Spam protection -> Enable spam protection. To view them, open the Messages app, tap "filters" in the upper left corner and select "unknown senders." Select Messages, scroll to "unknown & spam" and flip on "filter unknown senders." (The little slider will turn green.) Be aware: This will send all messages from unknown numbers, even new friends, into a separate folder. On an iPhone, go to Settings and scroll down to see all your apps. On my Android phone, I opened the conversation, tapped the three little dots at the top right, selected "details," then tapped "block & report spam." Then, tap "info," and select "block this caller" at the bottom of the screen. On an iPhone, open the conversation (without clicking any links in their message) and tap the phone number at the top of the chat. Blocking each spam sender is an annoying game of whack-a-mole, but at least it keeps them from texting you again. Keep in mind, though, that even if you guard your phone number with your life, scammers still punch in numbers randomly. Take a minute to make your phone number private on your Facebook account, Porter suggested, and Google your number to see where else it may be publicly listed. To combat that, you can always provide burner phone numbers generated by an app like Google Voice or DoNotPay. The fast-and-loose data market makes it easy for scammers to get their hands on names and phone numbers. I want that 15% discount at ASOS as much as the next girl, but once you share your phone number with a company, it's hard to know where it goes afterward. Whenever possible, don't share your phone number. Replying "stop" just lets them know there's a real person on the other end of their outreach. Don't reply "STOP." Legitimate businesses are required by law to stop texting you if you opt out, usually by texting "stop." But scammers don't care. Clicking a link also signals to the scammer that you're interested, and they may follow up with more texts or calls. Links in spam texts usually usher you to the next step in the scam, like entering a username and password. In the same vein, it's usually a red flag if a customer service rep asks to remotely control your computer. It's a classic con-artist tactic to talk down to people until they bend to your suggestions, according to Kurt Baumgartner, principal security researcher at cybersecurity company Kaspersky. If you ever get a call from a so-called customer service representative who makes you feel embarrassed or stupid, hang up. If you reply to a spam text or open a link, scammers may follow up by calling you. For example, "" could become something like "." Strings of numbers and symbols in a link can also be a bad sign, Porter said. Sometimes, that link appears to lead to a legitimate site, but on closer inspection, a critical word or letter is missing or misspelled. If the message is riddled with spelling and grammatical errors or seems out of line, it's likely a scam.
#SPAM TEXTS HOW TO#
Video: How to upcycle and recycle your old gadgets and smartphones They also know how to manipulate you by making you feel sad, scared or embarrassed. They tailor their scams based on current events - think of the spike in covid vaccine-related scams this past year. Scammers read the news, use online services and put their pants on one leg at a time, she said. When trying to tell the difference between legitimate texts and spam, Porter says she has an unlikely mantra: "Scammers are people too." Our readers say they're bombarded with romance scams, fake updates from Amazon and phony communications from banks. Like you describe, some spam texts are obvious solicitation, asking if you want to buy something or sign up for a service. Other readers have written in with concerns about scammy and spammy texts. How can I block them?Ī: You aren't alone. Q: I have an iPhone and get unwanted solicitations by texts. Now, the good news: You can take steps to receive fewer spam texts, and if you do fall for one, there are ways to pump the breaks before scammers further mess with your accounts, devices or wallet. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.
That's a big jump, and it's likely because scammers are realizing that people are too familiar with phone scams to fall for them at the same rate, RoboKiller vice president Giulia Porter said. A report from spam-blocking app RoboKiller found that spam texts increased 58 percent in 2021 from 2020. I get a dozen texts every week filled with weight-loss psychobabble, while my husband is dogged by technically-legal-but-still-not-awesome political outreach and fearmongering.įirst, the bad news: These texts aren't going away any time soon. Spam texts are a strange mix of predatory, nonsensical and too good to be true.
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