TEXAS – Spam calls and texts are a nuisance that everyone faces. If you are constantly dealing with unwanted spam calls and texts, you are not alone.
We’ve gotten several messages into ‘2 Helps You’ from people wanting to stop unwanted messages.
There are a few things you can do to help stop messages from getting on your devices.
- Do Not Call Registry - First, make sure your number is on the Do Not Call Registry. Confirm you are on the Government’s actual Do Not Call Registry website. (Yes, spammers will target you with fake websites that appear to be a registry.)
- Call block - Use your phone’s built-in call blocking feature to stop calls from unknown numbers.
- Turn on your phone’s settings to block messages from unknown senders. SETTINGS>PHONE>SILENCE UNKNOWN CALLERS. Both Apple and Google offer this feature. When you block or report the messages, this also sends the information to developers tracking the issue.
- If you don’t have the option from Apple or Google, you can still forward spam texts to your carrier by sending them to 7726 (which spells “SPAM”).
- Download carrier apps that help block spam calls and texts, such as:
- Other apps can help stop unwanted messages. Apps like Robokiller, YouMail, and Truecaller may charge a fee.
Michael Bordash, head of research at Syniverse — the company that connects major mobile carriers and processes billions of texts daily — explains why spam messages keep slipping through.
Conversational messages bypass filters
Scammers are getting smarter by keeping their messages simple and conversational. Bordash says scammers use everyday language in person-to-person style texts, which helps them bypass traditional spam filters designed to catch obvious scams like free offers or IRS rebate notices.
Those random “Hi” or “What’s up?” texts you get? They’re designed to hook you into longer conversations that often lead to romance or job offer fraud. Scammers constantly test and adapt their tactics, even using artificial intelligence to make messages sound real.
What and tricks are thieves using to get you to respond?
- Offers that are too good to be true
- Earn money while at home
- “Wrong number” texts
- Sense of urgency around parking fines, toll fines, package delays, IRS taxes owed, IRS refunds due to you, and police contacting you about your car registration being used to commit crimes
Bordash emphasizes the importance of reporting scam messages instead of ignoring them.
“People look at it, our data scientists examine that,” he says. The more people block and report spam, the faster experts can track and stop scammers.
Check where your phone number may be public
Be mindful of where your phone number is shared online. Websites like LinkedIn, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace can expose your number without you realizing it.
If you suddenly get flooded with spam calls and texts, it’s a sign your information may have been sold on the black market. Keep an eye on your credit reports and watch for suspicious new accounts.
MORE INFO: What to look for on your credit report
The Federal Trade Commission reported in 2024 that $470 was lost to text-related scams; 2025 is looking to exceed $600 million.