Spam texts are more than annoying. Many are scams pretending to be banks, delivery companies, toll agencies or job recruiters, designed to steal money or personal information. Android has several built-in tools to fight back, and your carrier offers more. This guide explains nine ways to stop spam texts on Android, how to spot dangerous messages and what to do if you already clicked a link.
Common types of spam texts
| Spam type | Example message | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Fake delivery | Your parcel is on hold, pay a small fee | Steal card details |
| Toll or fine | Unpaid toll, pay now to avoid penalty | Steal card details |
| Bank alert | Suspicious login, verify your account | Steal bank login |
| Job offer | Earn hundreds a day working from home | Task or money scam |
| Wrong number | Hi, is this Anna? Friendly chat that turns into investment pitch | Romance or crypto scam |
| Prize | You won a gift card, claim here | Personal data or fees |
| Verification code | Unexpected code followed by a request to share it | Account takeover |
1. Turn on spam protection in Google Messages
Google Messages, the default texting app on most Android phones, has built-in spam detection.
- Open Messages.
- Tap your profile picture, then Messages settings.
- Tap Spam protection and turn on Enable spam protection.
Messages will warn you about suspected spam and move it to the Spam and blocked folder. Newer versions also offer scam detection that warns about suspicious conversations.
2. Block the sender
- Open the spam conversation.
- Tap the three dots, then Details or Block and report spam.
- Choose Block, and tick Report as spam to help Google improve detection.
Blocking stops that specific number, though spammers often switch numbers.
3. Report spam to your carrier with 7726
In the US, UK, Canada and many other countries, you can forward spam texts to 7726, which spells SPAM on a keypad. Your carrier uses these reports to block spam networks. Long press the message, choose Forward, and send it to 7726. You may be asked to send the spammer’s number in a second message.
4. Filter unknown senders
On Samsung Messages, go to Settings, Block numbers and spam, Block unknown senders. In Google Messages, unknown senders are separated so they do not appear alongside messages from contacts. This keeps your main inbox clean.
5. Use your carrier’s free spam tools
| Carrier | Free tool |
|---|---|
| Verizon | Call Filter app |
| AT&T | ActiveArmor |
| T-Mobile | Scam Shield |
| Many others | Built-in network spam filtering |
These tools block known spam numbers before they reach you.
6. Do not reply to spam
Replying, even with STOP, tells spammers your number is active, which can lead to more spam. Only reply STOP to legitimate businesses you signed up with.
Frequently asked questions
Why am I suddenly getting so many spam texts?
Your number may have appeared in a data breach or been sold by a marketing list.
Can I stop spam texts completely?
Not completely, but spam protection, blocking and carrier tools reduce them dramatically.
Is it safe to open a spam text?
Opening is usually safe. Clicking links or replying is risky.
7. Keep your number private
Spammers collect numbers from data breaches, online forms, giveaways and public profiles. To reduce spam over time:
- Do not post your phone number publicly on social media or listings.
- Use an email address or a secondary number for store loyalty programs and contests.
- Read sign-up forms carefully and untick boxes that allow sharing with partners.
- Register with your country’s do not call registry, such as the National Do Not Call Registry in the US. It mainly targets telemarketing calls, but legitimate marketers also respect it for texts.
- Remove your number from people-search websites where possible.
8. Use a trusted spam blocking app
If built-in tools are not enough, apps such as Truecaller, Hiya or your security software’s message protection can identify and filter spam. Choose apps with strong reviews and clear privacy policies, since they need access to your messages or contacts. Avoid unknown apps that promise to block spam but ask for excessive permissions.
9. Stop spam group messages
Spammers sometimes add you to group chats with dozens of strangers. In Google Messages, open the group, tap the three dots, choose Group details and select Leave group if available, then block and report the sender. With RCS chats you can usually leave and report the group directly. Do not reply all, which exposes your number to everyone in the group.
How to spot a scam text
| Red flag | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Urgent tone or threats | Scammers want you to act before thinking |
| Short or odd links | Hide the real destination |
| Requests for codes, passwords or card numbers | Real companies never ask by text |
| Unknown or international numbers | Often used by scam operations |
| Spelling mistakes and generic greetings | Mass-produced messages |
| Messages about orders or parcels you did not make | Bait to make you click |
| Email addresses as the sender | Common for bulk scam texts |
When in doubt, contact the company directly using its official app or the number on your card or statement, not anything provided in the message.
What to do if you clicked a spam link
- Close the page immediately and do not enter any information.
- If you entered card details, call your bank right away to block the card and dispute charges.
- If you entered a password, change it on the real website and turn on two-factor authentication.
- If you installed an app, uninstall it, run Google Play Protect and consider a factory reset if your phone behaves strangely.
- Watch your accounts for unusual activity over the following weeks.
- Report the scam to your country’s fraud reporting service and forward the text to 7726.
How to recover deleted messages from the spam folder
If a real message ends up in spam, open Google Messages, tap your profile picture, choose Spam and blocked, open the conversation and tap Not spam or Unblock. It will move back to your inbox, and future messages from that sender will not be flagged.
Spam text settings on popular Android phones
| Phone brand | Where to find spam settings |
|---|---|
| Google Pixel | Messages, Messages settings, Spam protection |
| Samsung Galaxy | Messages, Settings, Block numbers and spam |
| OnePlus | Messages app settings or Google Messages spam protection |
| Motorola | Google Messages, Spam protection |
| Xiaomi | Messages, Settings, Spam filter or Blocklist |
If your phone uses a manufacturer messaging app, you can switch to Google Messages from the Play Store and set it as your default SMS app to get Google’s spam and scam detection.
Real examples
The toll scam. Mia got a text saying she owed a small toll and would face a large fine. The link went to a site with a misspelled agency name. She deleted it, forwarded it to 7726 and checked her real toll account, which showed nothing owed.
The wrong number. Raj received a friendly message from a stranger who said she had the wrong number, then kept chatting and later recommended a crypto platform. He recognised the pattern, blocked and reported the number.
The flood. After a data breach, Linda received ten spam texts a day. Turning on spam protection, blocking unknown senders on her Samsung and activating her carrier’s free scam filter cut that to almost zero.
Teach your family
Older relatives and teenagers are frequent targets. Show them how to block and report, explain that banks and delivery companies never ask for passwords or codes by text, and agree on a simple rule: never click a link in an unexpected text, always open the official app instead. A two-minute conversation can prevent a costly scam.
Spam texts on iPhone vs Android
iPhone users have similar tools under Settings, Apps, Messages, Filter Unknown Senders and can report junk in each conversation. If you also use an iPhone, turn those on too, because spammers target every type of phone.
Quick anti-spam checklist
- Spam protection and scam detection turned on in Messages
- Unknown senders filtered into a separate folder
- Carrier spam filter activated
- Spam numbers blocked and reported, and forwarded to 7726
- Phone number removed from public profiles and marketing lists
- Two-factor authentication on important accounts, using an authenticator app instead of SMS where possible
- Family members know never to click links in unexpected texts
Spam will never disappear completely, because criminals keep finding new numbers and tricks. But layering these protections means most junk never reaches your inbox, and the few that do are easy to recognise and delete without a second thought.
Review these settings every few months, especially after switching phones or messaging apps, because a new device may reset your spam filters to their defaults.
The bottom line
To stop spam texts on Android, turn on spam protection in Google Messages, block and report senders, filter unknown senders, forward spam to 7726 and use your carrier’s free tools. Never click links in unexpected texts. For more safety tips, read how to spot a fake website and how to know if someone blocked you on WhatsApp.