Residents Should Beware of Spam Text Messages

News Report

The Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency is warning residents to beware of spam text messages.

Spam text messages, like spam emails, are illegal to send to consumers who haven’t actually asked for them, according to the agency. Under the federal Can-Spam Act, companies must follow certain guidelines when sending bulk commercial electronic messages, whether emails or text messages. Viruses and phishing scams are now targeting smartphones. Consumers should exercise the same caution as they would when receiving unsolicited emails.

 What Consumers Should Know About Spam Text Messages

• Spam text messages are easy for businesses and spammers to generate, and spoof the origin of the messages.
• Spam texts often come from computers using programs that send out text messages to telephone numbers automatically.
• Consumers who follow links in spam texts can unknowingly subscribe to unwanted services and subscriptions that regularly show up on phone bills, or infect phones with malware and viruses that can steal personal information.
• Consumers trying to unsubscribe by texting “stop” back to the sender, are actually informing spammers their number is valid and active.

 How To Stop Spam Texts

• Always assume that an unsolicited text from an unknown number is a scam.
• Common examples include messages touting “free” products or services or claiming you’ve “won” a gift card for Walmart, Best Buy, Apple and other national retailers.
• Do not click on links or reply to unsolicited text messages.
• Discuss text scams with all members of your family, especially kids, who have cell phones.
• Never give out credit card, Social Security or bank account numbers, and check account and billing statements regularly.
• Report the spam to your wireless phone carrier. 
• Consider downloading apps that provide spam-text blocking features. 
• Contact your carrier to inquire about spam blocking services.

Remember: Consumers should register all phones, including wireless phones, with the National Do Not Call Registry by visiting www.donotcall.gov. Text messages sent to phones on the National Do Not Call Registry are in violation of the law and can be reported to either the Federal Trade Commission or Federal Communications Commission.