Here’s What You Can (And Can’t) Do About Mobile Text Spam
by Russell Shaw
On his Red Tape Chronicles blog, MSNBC Internet scam blogger Bob Sullivan sets his sights (and his site) on the putrid, stinky world of text spam.
After noting some of the comparatively few and egregious instances, of mobile spam attacks, Bob then provides perspective on the issue from spokespeople for the four major mobile carriers in the U.S.
Distilled:
T-Mobile says that because it uses spam software which enables consumers to add their own text filters, text spam is minimal on T-Mobile.
Verizon Wireless recommended the option of shutting off text messages sent from Web browsers or via e-mail. “After that’s done,” Bob notes Verizon spokesperson Jeff Nelson as saying, “only cell-phone-to-cell-phone texting is possible, and it’s nearly impossible to run a spam campaign because spammers need automated tools and e-mail programs to send thousands of messages at a time.”
Sprint users can call customer service and shut off texting, as well as go through the website to ban text messages from individual numbers.
AT&T Mobility, formerly Cingular, also will shut off texting for those customers who request it.
Sullivan ends his piece with three pieces of advice for mobile users who have received -and/or do not want to receive, mobile text spam:
Turn off texting if you never use it and your carrier offers that option. By default, almost all phones are text-enabled now.
If you might eventually want to use text messaging, get on the cheapest plan possible. Many carriers offer a few hundred messages for $2 to $3. I hate to recommend adding a service you might not use all the time, but predictable bills are better than surprises. Even $5 a month is better than one unexpected $45 bill that shows up after teenager suddenly discovers “how 2 txt.
â€Call and complain when you get text spam. It’s the only way to motivate your carrier to stay on top of the problem.
