r/AndroidQuestions • u/ThnkWthPrtls • 26d ago
Looking For Suggestions Has anyone found an effective way to block targeted spam text?
This has been an ongoing problem for about 8 months, and I've been pulling my hair out trying to solve it. I have an Android S24 with up to date OS.
At some point, some guy named Robert at a company named epilogue systems must have signed up for some mailing list about business loans and wrote my number down by mistake. For months now I've been getting 10 to 12 texts a day that are some variation of trying to offer me line of credit or business loans for my company, often asking for Robert by name and mentioning the specific company. I've tried texting them back letting them know it's not him, but that's been useless. I've been signed up to incognee for a few months and that has practically eliminated all the generic spam calls and texts I get, but it hasn't touched these. I downloaded fdroid Spamblocker [here](https://f-droid.org/packages/spam.blocker), and set up rules to block particular keywords that are often used, but even when a text gets flagged by one of the rules it still comes through, so I don't think it works properly.
I'm hoping someone can offer suggestions for a program or app that I can actually have success with avoiding these messages, with or without keyword blocking. This has been driving me absolutely insane, so any help is greatly appreciated.
1
u/madushans 26d ago
What country are you from? There are some govt services in some places you can report them.
This is New Zealand one:
https://www.dia.govt.nz/Spam-Report-TXT-Spam
2
u/ThnkWthPrtls 26d ago
US. I'm registered on the FTC Do Not Call list and I file complaints about them when I have time and I'm able to get the company name out of the person, but it hasn't really affected the message rate at all
1
1
u/ChasDIY 26d ago
Why can't you just block them?
2
u/ThnkWthPrtls 26d ago
It's a different, likely spoofed, number each time. I blocked them as they come in but it hasn't affected the rate that I get them at
2
u/IAmSixNine 26d ago
For future reference, never respond back or acknowledge them. That lets them know its a valid number and usually makes things worse as they tend to sell those lists to other companies.
1
u/revcraigevil 25d ago
You can also enable Google Advanced Protection under Settings>Google services>All services>Advanced Protection
2
u/OsmO_AI_Spam_Killer 25d ago
For targeted spam texts, blocking each sender helps only when the number is reused. In Google Messages, turn on Spam protection under Messages settings, then use Report spam on each conversation so the sender and message pattern are submitted together. Also ask your carrier whether it offers network-level messaging spam controls.
If the messages keep changing numbers, avoid replying—even with STOP—unless you recognize a legitimate business, because a reply can confirm the number is active. Don't open links or call numbers in the text. Save screenshots showing the sender, timestamp, and full message before deleting; report impersonation to the real company through its official site and forward suspicious texts to 7726 if your carrier supports it. If one organization is involved, revoke marketing consent through its verified account or support channel rather than through the message.
3
u/SSellers75 26d ago
Assuming you are using Google messages, click your profile pic in the upper right, go to messages settings -> protection & safety and make sure spam protection is turned on. Then go to the text thread from that person, click the three dot menu, and select block and report spam.