What The Tech: Does reporting spam texts actually work?
BY JAMEY TUCKER, Consumer Technology Reporter
What happens when you mark a text or call as Spam. And what you should do instead.
Spam texts and robocalls have become part of everyday life.
For many of us, seeing an unknown number pop up triggers an automatic reflex: hit “mark as spam” and move on. But what really happens after you tap that button? And is there a better way to deal with scam messages?
Here’s what you need to know so you can protect yourself — and help everyone else, too.
How Often Do People Get Spam Texts and Calls?
Spam isn’t rare anymore. According to recent research:
● About 20 percent of Americans get at least one scam or spam text every day.
● Most Americans receive around 41 spam texts per month — that’s one to two spam messages a day on average.
● Overall spam attempts — including calls and texts — are on the rise, with messaging scams increasing significantly year over year.
That means spam isn’t just annoying. It’s everywhere.
What “Mark as Spam” Actually Does
When you mark a call or message as spam on your phone, your device and your carrier take
note — but in slightly different ways.
1. Your Phone Learns First
When you mark something as spam:
● The number is blocked or silenced on your device.
● Future texts might skip your regular inbox.
● Calls often go straight to voicemail or are muted.
This is where you feel the benefit right away.
2. Your Carrier Gets the Report
Most phones send an anonymous report to your mobile carrier (like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile).
If enough people flag the same number, carriers can:
● Label it “Spam Likely.”
● Block the number on a wider scale.
● Improve future spam detection.
Think of it like a crowd-sourced warning system.
3. The System Gets Better… Slowly
All that data helps phones and carriers get smarter about spotting scams over time. But spammers are clever — they change numbers often, and new scam campaigns pop up all the time. That’s why spam never completely goes away.
The Smart Move: Forward Spam Texts to 7726
Here’s the part a lot of people don’t know:
If you get a spam text, you can forward the message to 7726 — that spells SPAM.
Forwarding to 7726 sends the message straight to your carrier. They analyze:
● The number
● The message content
● Any suspicious links
When lots of people report the same scam, carriers can block it faster across the network.
This helps everyone, not just you.
What Not to Do
One of the biggest mistakes people make is replying to spam texts — even with “STOP.” Here’s
why that’s a problem:
● It tells the scammer your number is real.
● Your number can get sold to other spammers.
● You may start getting even more unwanted texts.
Replying is like waving a flag that says “I’m here.” Don’t do it.
A Simple 4-Step Rule for Spam
To protect yourself and help others:
1. Don’t tap any links.
2. Don’t reply to the message.
3. Forward the text to 7726.
4. Mark it as spam and delete it.
It’s not a perfect solution, but it helps.
Why This Matters
With millions of scam attempts happening every day, every report counts. Forwarding spam to 7726 helps carriers identify and block scams faster. And avoiding replies keeps spammers from targeting you more.
Spam texts are annoying. But with a few simple steps, you can make them a little less powerful.
