Spammers Targeting Cell Phones – How to Stop Them

Although it is by no means as widespread as email spam, text message spam on phones is becoming increasingly common – and annoying. According to the Seattle P-I, however, there are several things cell phone users can do to block unwanted texts – 1.5 billion of which are expected to strike people this year.

For most people, whether they routinely text or not, it costs them money each time they receive an unwanted, soliciting text message. Most of these are sent through email with the use of an Internet address, rather than coming from another cell phone user. The good news is that this makes it easier for cell phone users to block these unwanted messages.

Depending on your carrier, you may be able to turn off text messaging completely – usually at 10-20 cents a go. For example, AT&T users can do this, as can Sprint and Verizon Wireless users. T-Mobile users cannot, as text messaging is “a mandatory feature,” although the company is working to allow its customers to block text messages.

It is also possible, in a lot of cases, to filter text messages sent to cell phones through email. With AT&T, users have to log onto their AT&T account, where they will find the option to either allow or block specific email addresses and domain names; they can also block all text messages or simply block multimedia messages. It is also possible to create an alias so that only the people you know can text you.

Sprint users can also do this, but to block texts, individual phone numbers, email addresses, and domains, they have to sign onto their Sprint accounts.

With T-Mobile, there are email and spam filters which can block people from emailing your phone. Verizon users can log onto their accounts, go to their preferences, and implement text blocking.

(June 17, 2008)