[New Englander]

It started about a month ago on my cell phone. Spam texts for crap. I block them but they change their number and continue. Now I'm up to four unwanted junk spam texts a day. It's maddening! Any suggestions?

[retiredguy123]

You can block all calls and texts from everyone except those stored in your contacts.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

You can block all calls and texts from everyone except those stored in your contacts.

I know that, but doing so you may miss a call or text that was legitimate.

[Stu from NYC]

Keep blocking they will run out of numbers eventually.

My wife gets phone calls from a company selling medical insurance about 5x a day and she blocks them. Unfortunately do not call means nothing

[retiredguy123]

You can try installing a robo call blocker app. There are a lot of them to choose from.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Stop visiting porn sites? <duck>

Seriously though - people who get lots of these (multiple ones every day) are people who have provided their cell phone number or "texted" to marketing companies or product companies. Once you do that, your information is sold to list companies, that in turn sell those lists to other marketing companies.

The only way to prevent it is to use your cell phone ONLY to make phone calls to people you know personally, and never click on ANY link that ANY of those people ever send you.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

You can try installing a robo call blocker app. There are a lot of them to choose from.

I have one but it works on calls, not texts.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Keep blocking they will run out of numbers eventually.

My wife gets phone calls from a company selling medical insurance about 5x a day and she blocks them. Unfortunately do not call means nothing

Unfortunately, no they won't.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by New Englander

Unfortunately, no they won't.

They cannot have an unlimited number of numbers to call from.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by New Englander

I have one but it works on calls, not texts.

The Truecaller app is supposed to block spam calls and messages, is free, and gets good ratings. So is Robokiller, but I think there is a charge for that one. I don't use any of them because I'm happy to get calls from almost anyone. Good luck.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The Truecaller app is supposed to block spam calls and messages, is free, and gets good ratings. So is Robokiller, but I think there is a charge for that one. I don't use any of them because I'm happy to get calls from almost anyone. Good luck.

If you want to have some fun see how long you can keep the crooks on the phone asking silly questions. I walk around the house while doing this and can get quite a few of my daily steps in this way

[Dana1963]

I recently upgraded my phone thru AT&T. If a caller is not in my contacts I do receive indication of missed call and # but no ring. Also notifies me if it’s Spam,telemarketers or politely but still doesn’t ring thru only receive text from contacts

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by New Englander

It started about a month ago on my cell phone. Spam texts for crap. I block them but they change their number and continue. Now I'm up to four unwanted junk spam texts a day. It's maddening! Any suggestions?

I had someone call last week and just say the word "bankrupt" (????) and hang up. I also got another call from someone who addressed me as "grandma". No one calls me that.

I have always wondered why some people want to reach out in a negative way to others and why some people vandalize others. I don't understand this need to hurt people they don't know.

[camaguey48]

Originally Posted by New Englander

It started about a month ago on my cell phone. Spam texts for crap. I block them but they change their number and continue. Now I'm up to four unwanted junk spam texts a day. It's maddening! Any suggestions?

It's the greatest country. Believe that.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by New Englander

I know that, but doing so you may miss a call or text that was legitimate.

You are correct. But, you can let calls go to voicemail and texts go to mailbox, check it out, then call back if it is legit.
In the days when we only had "land line" phones, you had to run to get the phone when it rang or you would miss the call. Now, with cell phones always with us, we need to stop reflexively answering the phone every time it makes a noise. If you let the call go, you can call back a caller you know instantly. Those you don't know, you have time to check it out. What if you were driving or in the shower? You would (or should) let the call go until you can safely get to it. Save yourself a lot of angst and let calls go, your friends will understand, and businesses and doctors offices will still be there when you call back.