How Do I Stop Spam Texts?

If other tactics fail, filing a TCPA class action lawsuit may be an effective way to stop spam texts.

Spam text messages can be a drain both emotionally and on our phones’ batteries. For individuals on minute plans, spam text messages may also be financially draining.

Such minute cell phone subscription plans charge usage fees, regardless of whether the messages are being sent or received. This means that not only are you receiving unwanted text messages, you are paying for having them delivered.

Furthermore, many spam texts are attempts at “phishing,” or trying to steal your personal information. If you attempt to engage with them by “opting out,” you may simply identify yourself as a target, and possibly run the risk of having malware installed on your phone.

Fortunately, there are a variety of actions you can take to stop spam texts and recover peace of mind.

Block & Report Spam Texts

A good first step to stopping spam texts is blocking and reporting numbers that send you the messages. This can be directly done through your messaging app on your cell phone. In some cases, you may even be able to speak with whatever organization is persistently contacting you to have them take you off their contact list. In other cases, usually involving spammers, blocking may be required.

Unfortunately, blocking and reporting numbers is not always the perfect solution. New scams are now using multiple phone numbers to contact consumers, so blocking one number does not stop the texts from any other numbers a scheme may be using.

One such tactic of this nature is known as “Caller ID spoofing;” the offenders literally hijack the phone number of some unsuspecting third party. You can confirm this by calling or texting the number back; if a private party answers and has no knowledge of you or claims they never tried to contact you, chances are that their number was “spoofed” by a spammer.

Filter Spam Texts in Bulk

If blocking numbers doesn’t work to stop spam texts from unknown senders, there may be apps or programs that allow you to filter spam texts in bulk before they even reach your phone.

Cellular providers sometimes offer these call blocking services. For example:

• Verizon customers can use their Caller Name ID app – a service that filters spam calls and texts.
• AT&T customers can use the comparable AT&T Call Protect feature which automatically blocks scammers and warns of suspected fraud. With the Plus version of this service, customers get reverse-number search capabilities and improved caller ID.
• T-Mobile has a default policy to notify customers of suspected scam calls and texts. However, they also offer an additional account feature to prevent these communications from reaching your phone at all.
• Sprint customers can use a service called Premium Caller ID. Although this service cannot automatically block incoming calls and texts, it can attempt to identify unknown numbers and warn about suspected spam communications.

Additionally, third party apps like RoboKiller can be installed onto phones to provide a similar filtering service.

However, these services almost always involve some sort of subscription fee – meaning that it may not be the most economic choice in the long run.

File a Spam Text TCPA Class Action Lawsuit

If all else fails and you continue to receive spam text messages, you may need to take legal action under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

TCPA is a federal law that protects citizens from a variety of unwanted communications including spam texts.

The law was originally passed in 1991 at a time when telephonic technology was making it easy and very inexpensive for telemarketers to make automated calls to hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Originally, the law applied only to the use of autodialers and what we now call “robocalls.” However, as technology has changed and advanced over the past 3 decades, it has been necessary to revise and update the law to include emails and other forms of unwanted electronic messaging.

Other behaviors prohibited under TCPA include calling outside of set hours, using an autodialer to place robocalls without consent, sending junk faxes, calling numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry, and more.

Unlike filtering services, a TCPA class action lawsuit may not cost you anything. Instead, TCPA entitles consumers to collect thousands of dollars in damages for violations of the federal regulations. Often times, attorneys will not make you pay for their services up front. Instead, this cost is deducted from whatever money may be collected from a trial award or settlement.

Join a Free TCPA Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were contacted on your cell phone by a company via an unsolicited text message (text spam) or prerecorded voice message (robocall), you may be eligible for compensation under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Get a Free Case Evaluation Now