• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Effective ways to stop receiving spam texts on iPhone and Android phones

Home> Gadgets

Published 17:07 23 Feb 2024 GMT

Effective ways to stop receiving spam texts on iPhone and Android phones

Both Apple and Android users can do something about the incoming spam.

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

Scams are getting worse in that they're looking more legit and harder to identify as scams.

Most scammers have turned to smartphone texts and phone calls to lure people in.

Text messages are an instant form of communication that's much more likely to get noticed than email nowadays. Alongside this, spam filtering solutions aren't that well developed on smartphones as they are on emails, and so they are perfect for targeting.

However, depending on the type of phone you own, there are some steps you can follow to reduce the spam you receive.

Advert

The best course of action, above all, is to not interact or respond to the message in any way.

Don't reply or open any links in the text /Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Getty
Don't reply or open any links in the text /Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Getty

Even if there's a valid 'opt-out' option, chances are this will just confirm that your phone number is still in use. And for obvious reasons, don't click on any links in the text whatsoever.

For iPhone users, Apple has thankfully made reporting spam messages a whole lot easier.

Advert

In the iOS 16 update, Apple introduced a one-tap reporting feature. You can do this by going into the conversation containing the spammy text, and selecting the blue 'Report Junk' button.

This usually appears when senders aren't in your contact list.

Then a further option that says 'Delete and Report Junk' will appear which you can click, and this will delete the conversation from your phone.

Additionally, you can block numbers if you find a lot of spam is coming from one number in particular. To do this, again go into the conversation and select the icon at the top with the number on it. Now, select 'Info' and 'Block this Caller.'

Advert

The iPhone will then ask you to confirm the option which you can select 'Block Contact'. From this, you can view and manage your blocked list in the Messages folder under 'Blocked Contacts'.

Smartphone text messages aren't as spam proof as emails / Olly Curtis/Future/Getty Images
Smartphone text messages aren't as spam proof as emails / Olly Curtis/Future/Getty Images

Alternatively, for Android users, there's a way to block spam on Google Messages.

On this app, select your profile picture at the top-right corner and clicking 'Messages settings'.

Advert

Scroll down to 'Spam protection' and enable it. Doing this means any messages identified as spam will go into this folder and not directly to you.

Unfortunately, Android phones don't automatically identify spam messages, so you will have to do this manually. However, doing so will train your phone's algorithm to better recognise similar spam messages in the future.

You can perform this by opening the message and click 'Report spam'.

You then get the additional option to block the number permanently. Once you've decided, click the 'Report spam' button again to confirm.

Advert

Spam will now appear in the 'Spam & blocked' folder on your messages rather than your main conversation list.

Lastly, smartphone users can choose to download third-party apps to control their spam. Numerous developers have taken it upon themselves to top the systems that Apple and Google already have going.

Security apps like Truecaller and Malwarebytes provide an extra layer of protection.

Featured Image Credit: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Olly Curtis/Future/Getty Images
iPhone
Android
Apple
Cybersecurity

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 days ago
11 days ago
19 days ago
23 days ago
  • 10 days ago

    Donald Trump makes major changes to golden iPhone rival

    His fans shouldn't be too happy about this one

    Gadgets
  • 11 days ago

    Little-known reason why you should always place your phone face down on a table

    There are plenty of digital health benefits by making the simple change

    Gadgets
  • 19 days ago

    Trump family to take on iPhone as they launch mobile phone with unbelievable price point

    Many have been left shocked at the price

    Gadgets
  • 23 days ago

    Every phone that qualifies for free upgrade as Android drops 'biggest update in years'

    The operating system has been in beta testing for months

    Gadgets
  • Android and iPhone users put on red alert following rise in quishing attacks costing people millions each year
  • Android phones could finally be getting long-awaited iPhone feature for making calls
  • FBI send urgent warning to 150,000,000 iPhone users to delete these specific text messages
  • FBI issues important warning to all iPhone and Android users to hang up if they hear this on a call