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How to block Mobile Phone Spam:
Just when you think you've got junk mail and
e-mail spam under control, you might start
getting unsolicited
text messages on your
mobile phone. |
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-Create an alias. If there are some
messages
you want to receive from the Internet (airline
schedules, hotel reservations,
etc.), then some providers will allow you to
create a unique alias, blocking all messages
that are not addressed to your alias.
This filters out
spammers, who usually find their targets
by sending text messages to random numbers
(1234557890@txt.company.com). Give your
alias address only to the people and website
you actually want to receive messages from.
as of June 2008, this feature is offered by
aT&T,
Verizon Wireless and
T-Mobile.
Doing this may inadvertently
block replies to your
text messages. If the reply-to address
isn't your alias and someone replies to your
message or e-mail, their message will get
blocked because it wasn't sent to your
alias.
If your carrier allows you to block
all text messages
except when it comes from a specific
address, you can create an e-mail account
that has good spam
filtering software and have your phone
only receive messages
from that specific e-mail address. Have
people text message you at that address, and
have all the e-mails from that account
forward automatically to your
phone. |
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-block a specific number,
e-mail address, or website. Most providers
offer this option, and it can be useful if
the spammer consistently text messages you
from the same number or e-mail address, or
if they always include their URL in the
messages they send.
-Dispute your cell phone bill. If
spammers continue to get through, you
may be able to convince the carrier to drop
the charges associated with those messages.
You have a better chance at this if you call
as soon as your
receive the spam. |
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carrier Specific
Instructions:
In addition to calling your carrier to add these settings, you
may also be able to block spam through the carrier website as
follows. (Keep in mind that the layout of the website may have
changed since this writing, so feel free to update this page as
needed.)
aT&T: Log in at http://mymessages.wireless.att.com. Under
Preferences, look for the text-blocking and alias options. You
can also block specific addresses and websites.
Verizon Wireless: Log in at http://vtext.com. Under Text
Messaging, click Preferences. Click Text blocking to block text
messages from e-mail or from the Web. You can also block
specific addresses or websites, or set up an alias.
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T-Mobile: Log into http://www.t-mobile.com and go to "My
t-mobile" using the t-mobile sites drop down at the top of the
page. Now, search for "Change plan or services" and click the
link. You will be taken to a page with the section "Your Current
Services" where you'll have to click the "change services"
button.
Here, you can
block text messages,
instant messages,
photo messages,
messages sent via e-mail, or even
all text messages.
Sprint: Log in at http://www.sprint.com. On the
top navigation bar, click My Online Tools.
Under Communication Tools, click Text
Messaging. On the Compose a
Text Message page,
under Text Messaging
Options, click Settings & Preferences. In
the text box, enter a phone number, email
address or domain (such as Comcast.net) that
you want to block.
Virgin Mobile: Check the Messaging Settings
page on Virgin Mobile’s website
(http://www.virginmobile.com) to
block text messages from up to ten
telephone numbers or email addresses; you
can also change preferences on your handset
(VirginXL or VirginXtras > Messaging >
Messaging Management).
Tips:
There is
software designed to be installed
on your phone to filter text messages. This
may be the only way to block spam from your
own carrier, which is common in countries
like Thailand.
Look at the message in question and
determine if the sender is someone you know
or not. (Sometimes friends annoy other
friends this way.)
Warnings:
Registering your phone on the
National Do Not call Registry
only prevents phone calls, not text
messages.
Do not respond to
text message spam, because usually the
first time is random numbers being tested
for responses. If you do respond to a spam
message, you may inadvertently sign yourself
up for additional
spam
messages as many times
spammers can and will sell your digits
to other
spammers. Don't take their bait.
about the author:
Sources:
http://www.wikihow.com/block-Mobile-Phone-Spam
Published by:
www.seekinusa.com
,
all text shared under a
Creative Commons License.
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