Spam text FAQ: What to do, what NOT to do and how to get less

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Buzz, buzz! Nope, it’s not a message from a friend. It’s another scammer pretending to be anything from your bank to an old high school friend, usually with an obvious trap included. In 2022, Americans lost almost $330 million through text message scams alone.

There is a way to handle text spam, but many people make things worse instead of better. Here are the answers everyone with a phone (including growing kiddos) needs to know.

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Where are all these spam texts coming from?

Robocalls are decreasing, and scammers rely more on texts, which shot up over 12 billion monthly in 2023. Everyone is getting more of them. You may be targeted because:

Can I block spammy texts permanently?

Maybe not entirely, but you can make a big difference in how many you receive. Do this to stop a new text storm:

Should I answer a text and ask them to stop?

No! A hard and fast rule: Never reply to a spam text. That just confirms your number is active and you’ll start getting even more scammers hitting you up. And don’t try replying “STOP,” “NO” or anything else, even if that works on legitimate subscriptions. 

SMARTPHONE TRICKS EVERY IPHONE AND ANDROID USER SHOULD KNOW

Instead, block the phone number and mark the message as spam. Then, hit the delete button.

How do I make sure a text is legit?

It’s tricky, and there’s no one way. Instead, look for signs. 

When you’ve got time: Stop by my guides for protecting against malware and scam apps to delete pronto!

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Keep your tech-know going 

My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.

PODCAST PICK: $661K bank scam, malware targeting kids & FB Marketplace pro tips

Plus, I chat with Professor Scott Galloway about his views that Gen Z should be educated on mating dynamics — especially with sexbots on the rise. I’ll also show you how to spot phony retail sites, introduce a woman who turns her dating app matches into music and introduce you to ChatGPT Plus’s file analysis tool.

Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”

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