
Verizon offers a free service called Call Filter that can help block spam texts. This service uses AI to identify and block suspicious numbers.
To get started with Call Filter, you'll need to download the Verizon Smart Family app and enable the Call Filter feature. This will give you more control over your incoming calls and texts.
If you're already receiving spam texts, you can report them to Verizon by forwarding the message to 7726, which is the spam number. This will help Verizon's team identify and block the number.
You can also use Verizon's built-in spam text filter to automatically block suspected spam messages. This feature is available on most Verizon phones and can be enabled in your phone's settings.
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What Is Being Done to Combat Verizon Spam Texts?
Verizon is committed to stopping spam text messages. They work hard to make sure text messages remain trusted, blocking over a billion spam texts every month without even looking at the content.
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Verizon requires businesses and other organizations sending high volumes of texts to consumers to follow industry guidelines. This means they need to get consumer consent before sending texts, applying to all types of organizations, including political campaigns.
Verizon is constantly improving its spam monitoring and blocking. They co-founded the Secure Messaging Initiative with other service providers to identify and shut down illegal text message campaigns.
Here are some key measures Verizon takes to combat spam texts:
- Blocks more than a billion spam texts every month.
- Requires businesses to obtain consumer consent before sending texts.
- Improves spam monitoring and blocking through the Secure Messaging Initiative.
Understanding Business Text Message Communication
Businesses can use text messages to communicate with consumers, but it's essential to ensure that the messages are compliant with guidelines to avoid being blocked as spam. Verizon recommends using an aggregator that commits to complying with the CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices.
To guarantee that your text messages reach consumers, you should verify that your aggregator adheres to these guidelines. According to Verizon, 80% of consumers consider consent crucial when receiving text messages.
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To send non-consumer messages, Verizon enables A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging through aggregator partners using approved messaging channels. This includes aggregators like Infobip, Kaleyra, and Syniverse, which have direct connectivity to Verizon's Messaging Platform.
To ensure your messaging campaign complies with guidelines, you should obtain a Short Code, 10 DLC, or an 800 number through your aggregator. Messaging campaigns should meet the guidelines outlined in Industry Best Practices prior to sending messages to Verizon customers.
Text Message Best Practices
To ensure your business text messages get through to consumers, it's essential to choose a reputable aggregator that complies with the CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices.
You should ensure that the company you use to send messages is committed to complying with these guidelines, as Verizon relies on them to ensure compliant text message campaigns can reach their recipients.
To be compliant, an organization must demonstrate that the recipients of your messages have consented to receive them. 80% of consumers say that consent is crucial.
Here are the key requirements for A2P (Application-to-Person) campaigns:
- The recipient has given explicit consent to receive the message.
- The message is not mislabeled as P2P (person-to-person) when it's actually an A2P message.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your business text messages are delivered to consumers without being blocked as spam.
Customers Receiving Texts Sent From Own Numbers
Verizon customers have been receiving suspicious text messages sent from their own phone numbers, warning them that their bill is paid for March and offering a gift.
These messages are part of a scam organized by unknown "bad actors", according to Verizon.
The messages contain a link that, if clicked, can lead to various websites, including the website of Channel One Russia, a state-operated Russian broadcast network.
If you receive one of these messages, don't click the link and delete the text instead.
You can report the incident to Verizon by forwarding the message to the number 7726.
AT&T and T-Mobile customers haven't been targeted by the same scammers, but they can also report spam messages by forwarding them to 7726.
Verizon is actively working to block these messages and has engaged with U.S. law enforcement to identify and stop the source of the fraudulent activity.
Identifying and Reporting Fake Messages
If you receive a suspicious text message claiming to be from Verizon, it's likely a scam. These messages often have no relevance to you, are completely random, and have no connection to any activity you've undertaken.
One way to identify a fake text message is to check if it contains misspellings or poor grammar. Real text messages from legitimate businesses will use proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Spam text messages can also be identified by their urgency or need for immediate action. They may pretend to be your bank or a government agency, trying to trick you into acting quickly.
Another red flag is a suspicious link in the text message. If the link looks fishy, don't click on it or follow any prompts from the message.
If you receive a spam text message, you can report it to Verizon by forwarding it to 7726. This will help them block the message and identify the source of the scam.
A unique perspective: Emailing Spam
Here are some common characteristics of spam text messages to watch out for:
- The message has no relevance to you.
- The message is urgent or needs immediate action.
- The text message contains misspellings or poor grammar.
- The text message is coming from a strange phone number or suspicious email address.
- The text message contains a suspicious link.
If you've already clicked on a suspicious link or provided personal information in response to a spam text message, contact Verizon to help secure your account and reach out to any financial institutions or services you believe may be impacted.
Managing and Removing Spam Texts
Don't respond to unwanted or suspicious texts, not even to say STOP. This can actually confirm to spammers that your number is active and may lead to more spam messages.
Report spammers to Verizon to help keep your information secure and prevent future spam texts.
To filter potential spam texts, use tools like Call Filter or block specific spammers in your My Verizon account.
To block spam texts on an iPhone, simply go to Settings, scroll down to Messages, and turn on "Filter Unknown Messages". You can also block persistent senders by pressing on the sending address and using the "Block this Caller" function.
On an Android phone, go to the Messaging app, tap the three dots icon, and enable Spam Protection. You can also choose or manually enter a number you wish to block.
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Remove Charges
You can try to remove charges for spam texts by forwarding them to 7726, which will notify Verizon and mark them as spam. This might not eliminate the need for a monthly phone call, but it's worth a shot.
Verizon still charges 20 cents for each text spam you receive, even if you report them to 7726.
If you're getting spam texts from a short code (less than 10 digits), try replying STOP to the message. This might stop the spam, but it's not a guarantee.
Sprint and T-Mobile automatically don't charge for spam texts.
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Managing Texts
Don't respond to unwanted or suspicious texts, not even to say STOP. This can actually confirm to spammers that your number is active and may lead to more spam texts.
Reporting spammers to Verizon is a great way to help block future spam texts. You can report spammers by following the steps in your Verizon account.
Filtering potential spam texts with tools like Call Filter can also help keep your information secure. Call Filter can help identify and block suspicious calls and texts.
On iPhones, you can block persistent senders by using the "Block this Caller" function. To do this, press on the sending address at the top of the message and then tap the "info" icon.
On Android phones, you can enable spam protection by going to the Messaging app and tapping the three dots icon. From there, tap on "Settings" and then "Spam Protection" to turn it on.
Here are some general tips to block spam texts:
- Don't respond to unwanted or suspicious texts.
- Report spammers to Verizon.
- Filter potential spam texts with tools like Call Filter.
- Block specific spammers in your My Verizon account.
By following these tips, you can help keep your information secure and prevent future spam texts.
Smishing and Text Message Safety
Smishing and text message safety is a crucial topic, especially with the rise of spam texts. Spam or fake text messages can be identified by their lack of relevance to you, often with no prior connection or activity.
A suspicious text message will often urge you to act now, claiming to be from a reputable company, such as your bank or a government agency. These messages can be defined as smishing, a fraudulent practice that aims to trick you into revealing personal information.
Some common examples of smishing and spam text messages include:
- Spam texts stating you’ve won something, the IRS is trying to contact you, you have a refund coming or asking you to verify your bank account
- Spam texts also often say you have a package delivery, verify your email/icloud/android ID, or that a family member needs help urgently.
These types of messages often contain suspicious links, poor grammar, and misspellings. If you receive any of these from unknown numbers, be suspicious, especially for financial texts. Call your bank or credit card company if you have any doubts or suspicions.
Smishing and Examples
Smishing is a type of text message scam that tries to trick you into giving away your personal information. It often pretends to be from a reputable company to get you to reveal sensitive details like passwords or credit card numbers.
Some common examples of smishing include text messages about bank notifications, package updates, and act-now coupons and urgent warnings. If you receive any of these from unknown numbers, be suspicious, especially for financial texts.
Spam text messages can be defined as junk messages sent to a mobile phone as text messages through SMS, without prior express permission or invitation from the receiver. They often try to trick you into giving away your personal information.
Smishing and spam text messages can come in many forms, but some common examples include:
- Spam texts stating you’ve won something, the IRS is trying to contact you, you have a refund coming or asking you to verify your bank account
- Spam texts also often say you have a package delivery, verify your email/icloud/android ID, or that a family member needs help urgently.
- Text scams often send fake billing statements.
- Travel related text scams often send fake messages and deals from well known travel companies to try and get personal details or money from people.
- Another popular text scam is one that claims you’ve won money. The text apparently comes from a well-known business but is a text scam aimed at getting your personal details.
These types of scams can lead to identity theft and compromise your personal and financial information.
Text Message Safety Tips
Be cautious of text messages that ask you to reveal sensitive information, such as your Social Security number or bank account details.
Don't respond to suspicious messages, even if they claim to be from a trusted source like a bank or government agency.
Never click on links or download attachments from unknown senders, as they may contain malware or phishing scams.
Legitimate companies usually don't ask for personal info via text message, and banks often use two-factor authentication to verify your identity.
Verify the authenticity of a message by contacting the supposed sender directly, or by looking up their official contact information online.
Be wary of messages that create a sense of urgency, such as claiming your account will be suspended if you don't take action immediately.
Sending and Receiving Non-Consumer Messages
To send non-consumer messages, you need to use an aggregator partner that has direct connectivity to Verizon's Messaging Platform. These aggregators can assist in obtaining a short code, 10DLC number, or 800 number.
Some reputable aggregators that can help you send non-consumer messages include Infobip, Kaleyra, imimobile, Vibes, Sinch, Zipwhip, and Syniverse.
Before sending messages, make sure your campaign meets the guidelines outlined in Industry Best Practices, which require organizations to demonstrate that recipients have consented to receive messages.
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Regulatory Efforts
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates non-consumer messages in the US.
In 2015, the FCC introduced the TCPA, which prohibits sending automated or pre-recorded messages to consumers without their prior consent.
The TCPA requires businesses to obtain explicit consent from consumers before sending them non-consumer messages.
Consumers can opt-out of receiving non-consumer messages by registering their phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry.
The TCPA also sets out specific guidelines for the content of non-consumer messages, including the requirement to include a clear opt-out mechanism.
Send Non-Consumer Messages

To send non-consumer messages, you'll need to use a reputable aggregator that's committed to complying with the CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices. This ensures your messages reach their recipients without being blocked as spam.
Verizon relies on aggregators to ensure that every campaign, regardless of its content, is compliant with these guidelines. This means you should choose an aggregator that can guarantee compliance.
You can use a short code, toll-free messaging, or 10DLC (Ten Digit Long Code) messaging to send non-consumer messages. These types of numbers are leased from a short code registry or obtained through an aggregator partner.
To obtain a short code, you can visit the US Short Code Registry website. For toll-free messaging, you can use a text-enabled toll-free number starting with 8xx. For 10DLC messaging, you can use a number that looks like a traditional phone number.
Here are some approved aggregator partners that can assist you in obtaining a short code, 10DLC, or an 800 number:
- Infobip
- Kaleyra
- imimobile
- Vibes
- Sinch
- Zipwhip
- Syniverse
Before sending messages to Verizon customers, make sure your messaging campaign meets the guidelines outlined in the Industry Best Practices. This will ensure your messages reach their recipients without any issues.
Customer Experience and Support
Verizon customers have been plagued by spam texts, with over 1 billion unwanted messages sent in 2020 alone.
These texts often come from third-party providers, such as companies using Verizon's bulk messaging service.
Verizon's customer experience and support have been criticized for being slow to respond to complaints about spam texts.
Some customers have reported waiting up to a week for a response to their complaints, with many receiving automated messages instead of personalized help.
To report spam texts, Verizon customers can dial *7726 from their phone, which will send a report to Verizon's spam team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 7726 actually work?
Yes, 7726 is a functional shortcode that reports spam messages to GSMA's Spam Reporting Service, which can help reduce unwanted messages. However, its effectiveness depends on your phone carrier's response and participation in the program.
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