Verizon added a new feature that makes it easier to block unwanted text messages effortlessly from your phone.
Customers can opt into this feature by texting OFF to 4040 to block texts originating from spammer email accounts. Instead of logging into your My Verizon account, you can turn off all emails to texts through your phone. To verify it’s enabled, text Status to 4040. Texting On to 4040 will stop email blocking. You’ll receive a text confirmation of your choice along with a reminder of how to toggle it on and off.
The move helps alleviate what’s been a growing problem plaguing phones – an increased volume of automated text messages. While some are useful – such as text message alerts for incoming packages or when your table is ready at a restaurant – they’re increasingly spammy and or filled with political rhetoric.
“Quarter after quarter, we’ve tackled spam and customers said they experienced fewer disruptions, less worry, and feel less overwhelmed about calls from unknown numbers – highlighting the impact of Verizon’s efforts compared to last year,” said Verizon.
Verizon said more than 80% of email-to-text messages are reported as spam. Preventing messages from reaching their target is an excellent step towards shutting down spammers. Remember that turning off email-to-text messages will prevent all email originated traffic, including non-spam, from reaching your text messages.
Only some businesses and organizations still use email-to-text to communicate, which is intended for low-volume consumer use only. However, this is an outdated system more often used by scammers. If you own a business and are concerned about messages not going through, Verizon suggests reaching out to Imimobile, Infobip, Kaleyra, Sinch, Syniverse, Twilio, Vibes Media, or consider Verizon’s Enterprise Messaging (EMAG) solution.
Customers still receiving spam can forward all unwanted text messages to 7726 by following these instructions:
Apple Device
- Open your Apple text messaging app
- Find and select the spam text message you want to report to junk
- Tap “Report Junk” button within your text messaging app
- Select “Delete and Report Junk”
Android Device
- Open your Android messaging app
- Long-press the message you want to block
- Select the three dots in the upper left corner
- Select Block
- Select “Report Spam”
- Then tap ok
Message+
- Open your Message+ messaging app
- Long-press on the message you want to report to spam
- Select “Report Spam” from the pop-up screen
- Select “Report Spam”
Samsung Messages
- Open your Samsung messaging app
- Click the three dots in the upper right corner
- Select Settings
- Select “Block Numbers and Spam”
- Select “Block Numbers”
- Select “Messages”
- Select the conversation you want to block