How to deal with spam text messages

Is it spam or a scam?

It can be difficult to tell the difference between contact from a legitimate company or an attempted scam.

Spam texts are when you receive unwanted or junk messages from companies or unknown senders, whereas scam texts are specifically designed by fraudsters to trick you into handing over money.

Scammers are increasingly taking advantage of smartphones and are getting very clever with how they try to take your hard-earned cash.

They can even make it look like a legitimate organisation is contacting you via text or a messaging app by using identity masking technology to change the name displayed as the sender. This is known as ‘number spoofing’.

Fraudsters can use many different types of messaging systems and apps, like SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Skype, Google Hangouts, Snapchat and other platforms to try scamming you.

If you get sent an unexpected message, it’s important you're sure it's legitimate. Read more about how to spot a scam message in our free guide.

Report a nuisance text or call

You can report spam or scam texts directly to your mobile phone provider free of charge by forwarding the text message to 7726. When you report a text you may get an automated response thanking you for the report and giving you further instructions if needed.

Most mobile phone operators now use 7726 to report spam and scam texts, which is free of charge. Once reported, operators can investigate the text and block numbers that are generating spam or scams on their networks. They can also use this information to inform the regulators.

For nuisance or scam calls, you can complain online to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) after registering with the service as well as to Ofcom about silent or abandoned calls - this is when the phone rings and no one answers or you're played a recorded message saying that a company has tried to call you.

You can also report spam texts and nuisance calls online to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The ICO has the power to fine companies that break the rules on unsolicited texts and phone calls. 

Video: how to report spam texts

Check out our video below for a quick guide to reporting spam texts.

Texts from unknown numbers

Never respond to spam or scam texts as this will just confirm that your number is live. Simply delete the text.

Only reply ‘STOP’ if you know the company that's sending the message. If the company continues to send you unwanted texts you can report it to the ICO.