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Stop Spam Text Messages

By iPad Pete 30 Comments

Unwanted text messages (aka SPAM) are annoying and could pose a security risk to your iPhone.

But thankfully, stopping – or at least minimizing – these spam text messages is absolutely possible. Here are a few things you can try to finally solve this problem…

A lot of people don’t realize that most phones actually have a setting that will automatically filter out SPAM messages in the text app – it’s just that this feature won’t necessarily be enabled by default.

On an iPhone, for example, open the “Settings” app and tap the icon labeled “Messages.” Scroll down until you see the option labeled “Filter Unknown Senders.” Turn it on by tapping the button to the right.

Your phone will still get these messages, it’s just that you won’t see them – and you won’t accidentally click on any rogue links that they may contain.

If you frequently get SPAM messages from the same phone number, you could also block that number to try to curb the issue. On an iPhone, tap the user icon at the top of the text and select “Info.” Select “Info” on the page that opens and then finally tap “Block This Caller.”

Obviously, this isn’t going to stop them from just getting another number and trying again – but it will stop the issue, at least temporarily.

You could also choose to use a paid text-blocking app, with RoboKiller being maybe the most prominent example for iPhone. After your free seven-day trial, RoboKiller will cost either $5 per month or $40 per year depending on the plan you choose.

Finally, you could always report spammers to your cellular provider by copying the message in question and texting it to 7726. This works for most major carriers including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile.

Regardless, one of the most important things for you to understand whenever you get a SPAM text is that you should NOT respond to it in any way. You may be tempted to see if you can get yourself removed from whatever list you’re on by replying with “STOP,” but you should resist that urge. Spammers will use any indication like that to confirm that they sent a message to a live number, meaning the problem is only going to get worse from that point on.

Instead, just ignore it and use the steps outlined above to curb the issue as much as you can.

Please share this important tip with your Friends using the share buttons below… I really appreciate you helping to spread the word! 🙂

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Filed Under: Features

Comments

  1. Mary E Lucas says

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    Thanks !!!!! I’m going to try it !!!!!

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      You’re welcome! Let us know how it works for you Mary.

      Reply
  2. Caroline Kluge says

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    I’m going to give it a try. Thank you.

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      Let us know how it works for you Caroline!

      Reply
  3. Sandra sue Clark says

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    Great HELP FOR SENIOR SO EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND DO. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      Yes Sandra, I try to keep it Senior-friendly and not Geek-out 🙂

      Reply
  4. Ellen L says

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    Wow! This was fabulous info! It was super easy to do as I get tons of spam messages Thanks So much and keep sending out your newsletter. I have learned so much about my iPhone that I didn’t know before. I have also forwarded your info to my two daughters. I have an iPhone 8, and I’m waiting till they come out with version 14.2 before I update. Probably in the winter I will also upgrade my iPhone. But I will miss that home button!
    Thanks again, stay safe and stay well!

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      Yes, I agree Ellen… I like the Home Button!

      I really appreciate you sharing with your Daughters!

      Referrals are really the only way we can keep on doing this.

      Reply
  5. John W Downs says

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    Thanks for the info.

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      You’re welcome John!

      Reply
  6. NMR says

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    Wow. Thank you. Now I know why the SPAMS grew when I respond with STOP,

    Reply
  7. Marie D'Agostaro says

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    This is great advice! I used this method immediately after reading this e mail!

    Reply
    • Carole says

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      Thank you for the great hints .
      Keep them coming.

      Reply
  8. Christa Bothe says

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    I love and appreciate your tips. Thank you.

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      Well Christa, I appreciate that you appreciate! 🙂

      Reply
  9. joan pinkus says

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    Thank you for this wonderful information.

    Reply
    • iPad Pete says

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      You’re welcome Joan!

      Reply
  10. Norma Pinette says

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    I tried this but got a reply thanking me for reporting spam and asking for the texter’s phone # so they can report to various places.I had already deleted the # and it wasn’t in the copied message. It would have been given that information in the instructions if we needed to give the phone # also.

    Reply
  11. Dave Reams says

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    IF I “Filter Unknown Senders” is it possible to screen the filtered messages? We have occasional changes in office personnel who may legitimately want to contact me but the filter would not recognize them as legitimate.

    Reply
  12. Jim says

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    Mine was turned off, turned it on and waiting to see what happens. Look forward to NOT getting these unwanted text.
    Thank you.

    Reply
  13. Hilda says

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    Thanks most useful

    Reply
  14. Stella says

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    Thank you..hope it works

    Reply
  15. Donna Doubek says

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    Thank you!

    Reply
  16. Martha Beals says

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    Thanks so much Pete!!! I get so many spam texts that it drives me crazy. I followed your instructions and now hoping it works for me, at least better than it is now.

    Reply
  17. Jennie Hardy says

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    This is great! Thanks so much — these texts are getting annoyingly frequent!

    Reply
  18. Corve Patrice Ransom says

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    Many thanks for this most helpful hint.

    Reply
  19. Mary says

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    Thank you for all of your tips! I started a folder called iPad Pete and I put all of your tips in that folder so I can check on them later if I need to.

    Reply
  20. Irwin says

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    Where will the spam messages appear?

    Reply
  21. Mike Thomas says

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    Thanks for all the great tips. I am learning things that I had no idea were there. Also, the way you explain and diagram makes it easy for us slower less technical people to understand. I have a question, what are your thoughts about the new IPhone 12? I need to upgrade from a 7+ and want to make a good choice. Thanks!!

    Reply
  22. Meryl abel says

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    You tips are also helpful. How do u stop these unwanted texts on a non I phone ( it drives my brother crazy- would like to forward to him

    Reply

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