Spam texts are becoming more common, cluttering our phones with group chats featuring unfamiliar names or unwanted discussions. While these texts may seem like just a minor annoyance, they can lead to even more spam, phishing attempts, or worse situations. Fortunately, similar to dealing with spam calls, there are manageable ways to prevent these unwanted text alerts and block such messages on your phone.
Increase in Spam Emails
Noticing a surge in spam text messages lately? You’re not alone. According to Consumer Reports, text-based fraud attempts have risen by 50%. Part of this spike is due to RCS, a newer texting standard that has replaced the older SMS on both Android and iPhone. Although RCS offers enhanced privacy and security compared to SMS, it also makes it easier for scammers to send misleading media attachments that might lure users into clicking on spam websites and divulging personal information.
What to Do Upon Receiving a Spam Text
If you get a spam text, please don’t respond! There’s no point in questioning why you were included in a group chat or confronting the person responsible for adding you. And really, try to avoid engaging with others who are also confused. Trust me, don’t click on any links shared in those messages. All these actions could just confirm to the sender that your number is active, which could unfortunately get you on more spam lists for future scam calls and texts. It’s generally better for spammers to think your number is inactive. So, the next time you receive a spam text, here’s how you can handle it.
Blocking Spam Texts on iPhone
To block spam texts on your iPhone, start by opening the Settings app. Once you scroll to the bottom, tap on Apps, then navigate to Messages from the list. Halfway down, you should see a section called “Unknown Senders.”
Here, enable “Display unknown senders.” This option will automatically flag texts from unknown numbers and place them in a different list in the Messages app. Next, make sure the “Time Sensitive” toggle is checked so that you receive alerts for important messages like two-factor authentication codes, ensuring you don’t miss anything critical. Finally, you can toggle on the Filter Spam option to hide spam notifications and keep those messages in a separate list. With these features activated, you won’t receive alerts for spam texts, but you can still review them later to determine if they’re genuinely spam.
Just a hint: these settings are found on iPhones running iOS 26. If your iOS version is older, the options might look a bit different or may not be available.
To check your quarantined spam texts, open the Messages app and tap the filter menu in the top right. Select either “Unknown Senders” or “Spam” to see what’s there. You can read those messages, remove them from the spam folder if they aren’t spam, or delete them permanently. But whatever you do, don’t reply.
Blocking Spam Texts on Android
For Android users, especially those using the Google Messages app, the process is quite straightforward. If you’re using a different messaging app, the steps may vary. Google Messages is recommended for its simplicity, security, and compatibility. If you haven’t switched over yet, it might be worth considering.
To get started, launch the Google Messages app on your Android device. Tap on your profile picture in the top right corner, then select [メッセージ設定]. Scroll down to “Protection & Safety,” and toggle “Spam Protection” to the on position. Doing this allows Android to automatically detect spam messages and filter them into the spam section of the Messages app.
It’s worth noting that while most of Android’s spam detection happens directly on your device, Google mentions that spam information is anonymized and sent to Google for enhanced spam protection. They claim that your identity remains confidential and personal information is not shared.
Restoring Your Messages App
Spam texts can be a hassle, but hiding them has never been easier thanks to the features built into both iOS and Android. With just a few quick adjustments, you can reclaim the peace of a messaging app that only lets in the contacts you actually want to communicate with.
