PREVENT SPAM TEXT MESSAGES

REPORT SPAM TEXT MESSAGES

• Report Messages with the SpamResponse app +

  Our free SpamResponse app helps protect you from spam text messages. This app is designed to make reporting spam text messages on a smartphone easy. Here’s how to get started:

  
  
  • Android: The SpamResponse app is preinstalled on most UScellular Android devices and is also available in the Google Play Store.
  • iPhone: The Spam Response app cannot be pre-installed on iOS devices, but it is available in the Apple App Store.
  
  

  With the SpamResponse app on your device, you can help mitigate spam sent via SMS. Use the app to:

  • Report unwanted messages: Swipe right on a text message within the app to report it as spam. (If a message is reported by accident, you can always undo it.)
  • Select multiple messages: If you’re getting many spam messages, you can use multi-select and save time reporting.
  • Collaborate for better digital security: When reporting a text as spam, SpamResponse investigates the message to map spammers’ online activities. The app works with other sources in the cyber-security industry to limit the impact of spam for you and all Uscellular customers.
  
  

  Note: Spam reporting does not extend to contacts stored within your device, so no need to worry about accidentally reporting friends and family as spam.
  
  While the SpamResponse app is used to report spam text messages, UScellular also offers the Call Guardian^® app to provide additional protection against Robocalls.
• Report spam messages: Android +

  Spam Protection is available in the “Messages” app that is preinstalled on Google devices and most other Android devices activated on UScellular. It is also available for download in the Google Play Store.
  Follow these easy steps to report spam messages on your Android device using the Messages App.

  
  
  • How to enable/disable:
  • Open the Messages App.
  • Tap More > Settings > Spam protection
  • You’ll only find “Spam protection” if it’s available on your device.
  • Turn “Enable spam protection” on or off.
  • How to report a conversation:
  • Open the Messages App.
  • Touch and hold the conversation you want to report.
  • Tab Block > Report spam > OK
  
  

  Note: The Messages app doesn’t share or send your message content to Google servers for spam unless you report a message to Google as spam.
• Report spam messages: Apple iOS +

  There are several spam protection options within iOS to choose from. You can block, filter or report messages on iPhone and iOS devices using iMessages, depending on what suits your needs best:

  • Blocking a specific person or caller prohibits any future contact with that individual specifically.
  • Filtering allows you to prevent notifications from any unknown senders.
  • Reporting will forward spam messages to UScellular and Apple.

  Block a Contact

  • In a conversation, tap the name or number at the top of the conversation.
  • Tap the contact info button, scroll down, then tap “Block this Caller”.
  • To view and manage your list of blocked contacts and phone numbers go to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts.

  Filter Unknown Senders

  • Go to Settings > Messages, scroll down to Message Filtering, then turn on “Filter Unknown Senders”.
  • When this setting is on, you can only see messages from people who are not in your contacts when you go to Filters > Unknown Senders.
  • You will not be able to open any links in a message from an unknown sender until you add the sender to your contacts or reply to the message.

  Report Spam Messages

  • In the list of messages, touch and hold the spam message, then tap Report Junk. Or if you’ve opened the message, scroll to the bottom of the message, tap Report Junk, then tap Delete and Report Junk.
  • The sender’s information and the message are sent to Apple and UScellular, and then the message is permanently deleted from your device.
  • Reporting junk or spam doesn’t prevent the sender from sending messages, but you can block the number to stop receiving them.
• Report spam messages by forwarding to 7726 (SPAM) +

  If you’re not on a smartphone, you can still report spam messages by forwarding the message to 7726.

  • Forward the spam message to the number “7726”. (You can also copy and paste the spam message on a new thread and send to “7726”.)
  • If successful, you’ll get the following message: “Hi, this is UScellular. Thank you for reporting this spam message. Please reply with the sender phone number to help us eliminate spam.”
  • Copy and paste the sender phone number from the spam message on a new thread and send to “7726”.
  • If successful, you’ll get the following message: “Hi this is UScellular. Thank you for your assistance in helping to protect against spam messages.

  Use these methods on any device, regardless of brand or OS to help us quickly identify spam messages and help prevent others from malicious attacks.
• What if my message is wrongly listed as spam and is being blocked? +

  If you are not a UScellular customer and believe we are blocking your message, email us at blockednumber@uscellular.com. Include your first and last name, phone number being blocked and whether this is a personal or business message. Let us know the best way to contact you and we’ll be in touch.
  If you are a UScellular customer and you believe your message is being blocked, please call (888) 944-9400.