How Long Will A Text Stay In The Cloud If The Recipient Is Out Of Service?

If you lot have a jail cell telephone, yous probably employ it dozens of times a day to text people you know. But accept yous e'er gotten a text message from an unknown sender? It could be a scammer trying to steal your personal information. Find out what you tin can do virtually unwanted text messages and how to report them.

Spam Text Letters and Phishing
What To Practice About Spam Text Letters
How To Written report Spam Text Messages

Consumer Warning: Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks. If you lot have an older jail cell telephone, you may non exist able to call or text. The FCC has advice about what to practise.

Spam Text Messages and Phishing

Scammers send fake text messages to trick y'all into giving them your personal information – things similar your countersign, account number, or Social Security number. If they get that information, they could proceeds access to your e-mail, depository financial institution, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers.

The scammers apply a variety of ever-changing stories to endeavour to rope yous in. They may

promise free prizes, gift cards or coupons
offer you lot a low or no interest credit carte
hope to help you pay off your student loans

Scammers also send fake messages that say they take some data about your account or a transaction. The scammers may

say they've noticed some suspicious action on your account
claim in that location'south a problem with your payment data
send you a fake invoice and tell yous to contact them if you didn't authorize the purchase
send you a fake package delivery notification

The messages might ask you to give some personal information — like how much money you make, how much you lot owe, or your depository financial institution account, credit card, or Social Security number — to merits your souvenir or pursue the offering. Or they may tell you to click on a link to learn more well-nigh the result. Some links may take yous to a spoofed website that looks real but isn't. If you log in, the scammers tin then steal your user proper noun and password.

Other letters may install harmful malware on your telephone that steals your personal information without yous realizing it.

Is that text message about your FedEx package really a scam?

What To Exercise Near Spam Text Messages

If you become a text message that y'all weren't expecting and it asks you to give some personal data, don't click on any links. Legitimate companies won't enquire for information about your account by text.

If you recall the message might be real, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real. Non the data in the text message.

There are many ways y'all can filter unwanted text messages or cease them before they attain you.

On your telephone

Your telephone may have an selection to filter and block messages from unknown senders or spam. Hither's how to filter and cake messages on an iPhone and how to block a telephone number on an Android telephone.

Through your wireless provider

Your wireless provider may have a tool or service that lets you cake calls and text messages. Bank check ctia.org, a website for the wireless industry, to learn virtually the options from unlike providers.

With a call-blocking app

Some call-blocking apps also let you block unwanted text messages. Get to ctia.org for a list of phone call-blocking apps for Android, BlackBerry, Apple tree, and Windows phones.

Yous can also search for apps online. Bank check out the features, user ratings, and skillful reviews.

How To Report Spam Text Messages

If you get an unwanted text message, at that place are three ways to written report it:

Report it on the messaging app you use. Look for the option to report junk or spam.
- How to report spam or junk in the Messages app
- How to report spam on an Android phone
Copy the bulletin and forrad it to 7726 (SPAM).
Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.