If you are an iPhone user, one method of reducing your robotexts and spam messages is to block the senderвЂ™s number. ( Note: The following instructions may vary according toВ the manufacturer, model, and operating system of your mobile device.) Block numbers from contacting you in the future But, be wary, as scammers use this same technique to lure you into replying STOP to their messages, which can help verify you and your number. Many legitimate companies offer you the chance to opt out of receiving messages from them. Also, do not respond to any suspicious text or message to avoid having your phone number tagged and distributed to other scammers. Tip in a tip: Never click a link or attachment in a robotext or spam message as this can trigger malware and infect your phone. However, this practice does very little to deter offending companies from continuing to fill your smartphone with annoying and potentially dangerous messages in the future. Some say robotexts and spam messages are a fact of life and you should simply ignore them. Related: FTC shuts down 4 telemarketers responsible for billions of illegal robocalls You are targeted by automated dialing вЂ“В Many telemarketing firms rely on automatic dialing devices that are capable of discovering and dialing all landline and cellphone numbers, including those that are unlisted. In addition to identifying and storing your number, the ANI system can match it with other digital data associated with you. You have called an 800, 888 or 900 number вЂ“В When you call phone numbers with these prefixes, your cellphone number is collected by an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) system.

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