How to Block and Report Spam Calls and Text Messages

Here’s what to do when you get a spam call or text message, and how to avoid them. Scammers, on the other hand, do not follow the rules. If you get a call or text message that’s obviously a scam — as many robocalls are — do not engage. Don’t dial any numbers in their automated menu, don’t reply to any text messages with “STOP,” don’t even talk. That’ll only convince the callers that the number is in service, and they’ll keep calling you back. Reporting text messages is a little bit easier: No matter what phone you have, just forward the text message to SPAM (7726). Read this article for some of the ways to block spam calls. Lastly, you can also put your number on the Do Not Call list and report unwanted calls to the Federal Trade Commission, which will ask for a bunch of information about the nature of the call and add it to its database."