Spam is defined as any kind of unwanted and unsolicited digital message sent out to a ton of unsuspecting recipients. The earliest form of spam dates back to 1864, done via telegraph in the form of suspicious business investments to the wealthy population.
Take down those pesky and dangerous spam messages now!
Fast forward to the 21st century, and the ratty action of spam still lurks within our short message services (SMS), emails, and even DMs on social media platforms. Yes, that message that says, “You are the winner of a brand new TESLA.” is probably fake, so make sure not to click that unreliable link.
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Due to the massive amount of scams and spam messages, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) continues to warn the public with periodic messages regarding the matter, notifying us not to believe those spam messages as they are nothing but scams. With that said, we shall delve into smart ways to reduce or even completely remove spam messages.
Recognize spam messages/emails
When it comes down to the basics, recognizing odd messages is key; if it looks out of place, it most probably is. Spam comes at completely random moments and is out of context. It's another red flag if it has urgency anchored to it such as verifying name, PIN, or even other personal information—DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR INFORMATION.
From Kim’s Convenience Official GIPHY
Additionally, most of these spam messages have grammatical errors such as misuse of punctuation, spelling errors, sentence structure, etc. If it is also too good to be true, like winning a large sum of cash, it is most likely a scam.
Never respond, never click
Some brave souls would reply in a “troll” manner just to play with the person or bot who sent it. This action is a huge no-no because it just tells them that your number is active and valid. This results in more spam sent your way.
From Vibeheads Official GIPHY
Reporting is key
If you continue to receive spam and cannot take it much longer because it baits you into thinking that your crush texted back, you can report it. You can follow the steps below on how to report a spam message to the NTC.
- Choose “Text Spam Report” as Complaint Type.
- Input respective information.
- Add your message.
- Attach a screenshot of the spam message.
Blocking is the way to go
There is no present way to counter spam messages, which is why we must do our part to protect ourselves. If you receive one, be quick to block it from your phone so future messages will not come through. This isn’t going to completely fix things because these people can switch numbers once more and continue their spree of mischief.
From Ziggora Official GIPHY
Try blocking-apps
Another process for extra security isn’t bad, such as apps that provide protection. With that said, allow these apps to help you with that.
- YouMail uses smart technology to detect spam messages (iOS | Android)
- UnknownPhone blocks unknown numbers (iOS | Android)
- Truecaller provides information about the caller and presents their validity (iOS | Android)
The state of how elaborate scams are is alarming. That’s why it’s good that active awareness about spam messages is being brought out publicly. Nevertheless, we all have to continue doing our part in notifying our loved ones about this ratty action. Stay alert, folks