Cell Phone Spam Text Messages Are Rising

Americans are expected to receive an estimated 1.5 billion unsolicited text messages on their cell phones in 2008, according to San Francisco's Ferris Research, which tracks mobile messaging trends. That's nearly double the amount received in 2006.

According to a report by the New York Times, as cell phones have become consumers' most personal technological devices, consumer groups, security experts, and cell phone companies are concerned that unwanted text messages on phones will be an even greater headache than unwanted computer messages.

Cell phone spam is particularly annoying to its recipients because it is more invasive -- announcing itself with a beep -- and can be costly.

Many cell phone users are interrupted in the middle of dinner and have to pay for messages they don’t want. Many consumers pay for a monthly plan that allows them to send and receive large numbers of messages. But for those without a plan, they are charged as much as 20 cents for an incoming message.

The carriers regularly adjust spam filters to block offending messages. At Sprint, more than 65 percent of all text messages sent over its network are identified and blocked as spam before they reach customers.

The companies use legal weapons as well. Verizon said it had filed eight lawsuits against spammers since 2004.

(May 12, 2008)