How to stop spam texts: forward to 7726, filter, and block

How 7726 works

7726 spells SPAM on a phone keypad. It's a shared short code that AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and many smaller U.S. carriers use to collect reports of unwanted texts. When you forward a message there, your carrier can analyze the sender and content and block similar messages across its network.

Forwarding on iPhone

1. Touch and hold the spam message, then tap More.
2. Tap the forward arrow, type 7726 as the recipient, and send.
3. If you get a reply asking for the sender's number, send it.
4. Back in the conversation, tap the sender's name or number and choose Block Caller, or use Report Junk if it appears under the message.

Forwarding on Android (Google Messages)

1. Touch and hold the message, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Forward.
2. Enter 7726 and send.
3. Return to the conversation, open the menu, and choose Block & report spam. Leave Report spam checked so Google also gets the report.

On Samsung Messages and other apps, the options are similar: long-press the message for forward, and open the conversation menu for block and report.

Your phone may not let you forward messages from some short codes or iMessage accounts to 7726. In that case, use the built-in Report Junk or Report spam option instead.

Filter texts from unknown senders

Filtering doesn't delete anything; it moves messages from people not in your contacts into a separate list so they stop interrupting you.

• iPhone: go to Settings > Apps > Messages (or Settings > Messages on older iOS) and turn on Filter Unknown Senders under Message Filtering. Recent versions sort messages into categories such as Unknown Senders and Spam. You can also install a third-party SMS filter app and enable it under Text Message Filtering.
• Google Messages: tap your profile picture, then Messages settings > Spam protection, and make sure spam protection is on.
• Samsung Messages: open the menu, go to Settings > Block numbers and spam, and turn on spam protection or caller ID features as offered.

Check the filtered folder occasionally. Verification codes, appointment reminders, and delivery notices sometimes come from numbers you don't have saved.

The most common text scams right now

Text scams follow trends, but the structure is always the same: an urgent problem, a link or number, and a request for money or information.

Scam	What it says	Reality
Unpaid toll	"You have an outstanding toll balance. Pay now to avoid fees."	Toll agencies don't demand payment by text link. Check your account through the agency's official site or app.
Package delivery	"Your package can't be delivered. Update your address."	Look up the tracking number on the carrier's official site, not through the link.
Bank alert	"Suspicious charge detected. Reply YES or call this number."	Call the number on the back of your card instead.
Wrong number	"Hi, is this Jessica? Sorry, wrong number!"	Often the start of a long con leading to fake investment or crypto schemes. Don't engage.
Job offer	"Earn $500 a day working from home, reply to learn more."	Usually a task scam that eventually asks you to deposit money.
Verification code	"I accidentally sent you my code, can you send it back?"	Someone is trying to take over your account. Never share a code.

Rules for any suspicious text

• Don't tap links. Go to the company's site or app directly.
• Don't reply. Any answer confirms your number is active.
• Don't call numbers in the text. Use a number you find independently.
• Never share one-time codes. No legitimate company will text you asking for a code it just sent.
• Slow down. Urgency ("within 24 hours", "final notice") is the scammer's main tool.

Reduce texts at the source

• Reply STOP to real businesses you once gave your number to, such as stores or restaurants. U.S. rules require them to honor it.
• Read the fine print on checkout forms. Many sites pre-check a box agreeing to marketing texts.
• Remove your number from people-search sites using our data broker opt-out guide.
• Use a secondary number for loyalty programs and contests.

If you already tapped a link or replied

1. If you only opened the page, close it and clear your browser history and website data.
2. If you entered a password, change it immediately on the real site and anywhere else you used it, and turn on two-step verification.
3. If you entered card or bank details, call your bank's official number and ask to block the card.
4. If you shared a verification code, sign in to that account right away, change the password, and sign out other sessions.
5. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you think your identity was stolen, use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.