ÌÇĐÄvlog

Skip to content
NOWCAST ÌÇĐÄvlog News at 7am Sunday Morning
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Getting a lot of unwanted spam texts? Here's how you can get rid of them

Getting a lot of unwanted spam texts? Here's how you can get rid of them
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE GETTING MORE RANDOM TEXTS FROM COMPANIES INSTEAD OF CALLS OR EMAILS? YOU’RE NOT WRONG, TEXT MARKETING IS ON THE RISE AND ANNOYED CONSUMERS ARE SICK OF IT. CONSUMER REPORTS SHOWS YOU HOW TO STOP THOSE SPAM TEXTS ONCE AND FOR ALL. RUTH LALANGUI GAVE HER PHONE NUMBER TO DRESSBARN WHEN SHE PLACED AN ONLINE ORDER. SHE DIDN’T REALIZE WHAT ELSE SHE’D BE GETTING -- SPAM TEXTS. >> EVERY SINGLE DAY. IN THE MORNING, IN THE EVENING, IN THE AFTERNOON. IT’S TOO MUCH. TIFFANY: SOMETIMES PEOPLE OPT-IN TO THESE TYPES OF TEXTS WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT. WHAT WAS WORSE FOR RUTH, THE TEXTS SHE GOT DIDN’T INCLUDE A CLEAR WAY TO OPT-OUT. IF YOU’RE GETTING SPAMMED WITH TEXT MESSAGES, CONSUMER REPORTS SAYS THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO. >> IF THE MESSAGE DOES OFFER A WAY TO OPT-OUT, DO THAT. YOU CAN ALSO FORWARD UNWANTED TEXTS TO 7726. IT’S FREE AND IT HELPS YOUR CARRIER TAKE ACTION. TIFFANY: YOUR PHONE OR CARRIER SHOULD ALSO GIVE YOU THE OPTION TO BLOCK THE NUMBER TO STOP THEM FROM SENDING YOU MORE MESSAGES. AND YOU CAN FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE FCC OR FTC IF YOU’RE GETTING MESSAGES YOU NEVER AGREED TO. >> BE CAREFUL WHEN ENTERING YOUR PHONE NUMBER ONLINE. YOU MAY NEED TO UNCHECK A BOX TO OPT-OUT OF MARKETING TEXTS OR EMAILS. TIFFANY: ANOTHER TIP, IF YOU’RE GETTING TEXTS YOU CAN’T SEEM TO STOP, CHECK THE COMPANY’S ONLINE PRIVACY POLICY FOR A WAY TO OPT-OUT. THAT’S WHERE DRESSBARN’S OPT-OUT POLICY STATES YOU CAN UNSUBSCRIBE FROM ITS MARKETING TEXT MESSAGES BY REPLYING "STOP." >> UNWANTED TEXTS CAN DEFINITELY BE ANNOYING BUT SOME CAN BE DANGEROUS. "SMISHING," AS IT’S CALLED, IS A WAY SCAMMERS TRY TO GET YOUR PERSONAL INFO VIA TEXT MESSAGE. TIFFANY: SCAMMERS MAY TEXT YOU CLAIMING TO BE FROM A GOVERNMENT AGENCY. THEY MAY SOUND URGENT AND ASK FOR AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. THEY MAY EVEN SOUND FRIENDLY OR USE YOUR NAME. >> IF YOU GET A SUSPICIOUS TEXT YOU DIDN’T SIGN UP FOR, DON’T REPLY, EVEN IF IT SAYS TO TEXT "STOP" TO OPT-OUT. BLOCK THE NUMBER THEN DELETE THE TEXT. TIFFANY: AS FOR RUTH, SHE’S NOT PLANNING TO GIVE HER NUMBER OUT AGAIN ANYTIME SOON. ANOTHER PIECE OF ADVICE FROM CONSUMER REPORTS, ADD YOUR NAME TO THE DO NOT CALL REGISTRY. IT COVERS UNWANTED TEX
Advertisement
Getting a lot of unwanted spam texts? Here's how you can get rid of them
Spam calls and emails have been a popular marketing method for years, but now, more and more consumers are receiving an overwhelming amount of spam texts.Ruth Lalangui is one consumer who has grown annoyed with this form of marketing. She said she placed an online order at a retailer and quickly started receiving nonstop spam texts. “Every single day. In the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon. It’s too much,” Lalangui said. So, how do you opt out of these messages or not get them in the first place? Consumer Reports says there are a few things you can do to avoid this annoyance. Sometimes, the message offers a direct way to opt out, but if not, Consumer Reports says, “You can also forward unwanted texts to 7726. It’s free, and it helps your carrier take action.” Your phone or carrier should also provide you with an option to block the number, which would stop them from being able to send you more messages. Additionally, you can file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission if you are receiving messages that you never agreed to. To put in a complaint online, click here. Video above: Scammers using texts to get your money, personal informationIf you are still receiving these messages, you can visit the company’s website and read their online privacy policy. You may be able to find how to opt out of their texts in this policy. Consumer Reports says it is important to avoid interacting with these messages, as they are not only a bother but can also be harmful. “Unwanted texts can definitely be annoying, but some can be dangerous. Smishing, as it’s called, is a way scammers try to get your personal information via text message,” said Octavio Blanco, a content creator for Consumer Reports. Scammers may text you claiming to be from a government agency and pretend that they urgently need to contact you. Sometimes they may be friendly and address you by name. But Blanco warns not to fall for those tactics. “If you get suspicious texts you didn’t sign up for, don’t reply, even if it says to ‘text STOP’ to opt-out. Block the number, then delete the text,” Blanco said. One final piece of advice: Add your name to the “Do not call” registry. To do so, click here.

Spam calls and emails have been a popular marketing method for years, but now, more and more consumers are receiving an overwhelming amount of spam texts.

Ruth Lalangui is one consumer who has grown annoyed with this form of marketing. She said she placed an online order at a retailer and quickly started receiving nonstop spam texts.

Advertisement

“Every single day. In the morning, in the evening, in the afternoon. It’s too much,” Lalangui said.

So, how do you opt out of these messages or not get them in the first place? says there are a few things you can do to avoid this annoyance.

Sometimes, the message offers a direct way to opt out, but if not, Consumer Reports says, “You can also forward unwanted texts to 7726. It’s free, and it helps your carrier take action.”

Your phone or carrier should also provide you with an option to block the number, which would stop them from being able to send you more messages.

Additionally, you can file a complaint with the if you are receiving messages that you never agreed to. To put in a complaint online, click .

Video above: Scammers using texts to get your money, personal information

If you are still receiving these messages, you can visit the company’s website and read their online privacy policy. You may be able to find how to opt out of their texts in this policy.

Consumer Reports says it is important to avoid interacting with these messages, as they are not only a bother but can also be harmful.

“Unwanted texts can definitely be annoying, but some can be dangerous. Smishing, as it’s called, is a way scammers try to get your personal information via text message,” said Octavio Blanco, a content creator for Consumer Reports.

Scammers may text you claiming to be from a government agency and pretend that they urgently need to contact you. Sometimes they may be friendly and address you by name. But Blanco warns not to fall for those tactics.

“If you get suspicious texts you didn’t sign up for, don’t reply, even if it says to ‘text STOP’ to opt-out. Block the number, then delete the text,” Blanco said.

One final piece of advice: Add your name to the “Do not call” registry. To do so, click .