For scammers, texting unsolicited messages is not only annoying it is illegal but companies and political campaigns can easily be reported for soliciting these unwanted text messages.

North American wireless carriers have recently deployed a service to the public that not only collects information you supply regarding these unwanted soliciting complaints, but have made it easier for wireless carriers to identify illegal spamming in order to take the needed action against such claims.

Accordingly a feature of this new spam reporting technology generates a certain data feed of these reports that carriers can now integrate into their security for their network. So how does it work?

Simple really…

Upon receiving a spammed text message all you do is simply forward the text to “SPAM” (7726). You will get back an automated message from your carrier asking you to reply back the number you are receiving these spams texts from.

You may get a response back telling you to return the original message (as it was probably sent from a short-code) with a response of, “STOP”. There are strict rules to adhere to when companies use these short-codes stating that if a reply of, “STOP” is sent to them they have to stop sending you messages.

Now you might be thinking okay well most of the spam text messages that I am sent come from regular numbers and not from some short-code so what am I to do when this happens, right?

You are probably right as many spammers know that by using short-codes they are obligated to follow strict rules and are closely monitored and regulated and that if these rules are disobeyed can find their short-code leases taken away or messages in the future being blocked by wireless carriers.

It is more likely than not a ruse when you get those spam looking texts saying claiming to offer you a free Walmart card for example so I had put this spam-reporting service to the test.

Upon acknowledgment the service had noted the 10 digit number I had sent them where this text had come from, I got a response thanking me for my assistance and then Verizon even offered me instructions on how to block a certain numbers text messages in the future!

While the spam report service I recently found out about didn’t tell me whether or not action has been taken against them I can trust the fact that I will not continue to be spammed in the future by the same number.

With several wireless carriers deploying this centralized spam-reporting service backed by GSMA (global association of wireless carriers) we can rest assured someone is taking action to collect this information of spam reporting in a common database making it easier for taking action against them sooner rather than later.