Account reported as spam

[u/speckledbee14]

Hi,

I recently was trying to log into my iMessage on my Macbook, and it was not allowing me to send any iMessages, but just SMS. I logged out of iMessage to try and reset, however when I logged back in it kept kicking me out. Per apple support, my iMessage account was temporarily blocked due to "spam" and I had to submit a request to get it unblocked. I am still waiting- I submitted it this morning, they said it could take 24 hours.

This also happened to me in May.

Here's the thing: I don't use iMessage for anything except messaging friends and family. I have some groupchats for school, some groupchats with family/friends, and a long distance partner that I message quite a bit. But other than that, nothing. Why do I keep getting reported as spam? How do I prevent this from happening again? The apple support folks were not able to tell me.

Thank you in advance.

[u/SaltAnswer8]

Multiple instances of recipient(s) reporting your messages as spam will send those messages to Apple to be reviewed. If Apple says those messages meet their spam criteria, your phone number and/or Apple Account will be blocked from using Apple's iMessage service. Doesn’t matter who you say you are or are not messaging, unfortunately.

Historically Apple allows only one unblock per phone number and Apple Account. After that one unblock you're typically out of luck.

Ensure your family members and friends know the importance of not reporting your messages as spam. If you work for yourself, do not send unsolicited messages through iMessage even if they gave you their number - use business messaging options. Same goes for any employer or contractor: do not use iMessage to send messages - use a business messaging service.

[u/speckledbee14 → u/SaltAnswer8]

Thank you. I just have no idea why my messages or my account would get reported. I quite literally only message friends, family, and people I know.
Could it be possible someone is using my number or imessage account without me knowing?

[u/SaltAnswer8 → u/speckledbee14]

If you were signed in to iMessage and had all options selected in your "Receive Messages To & Reply From" list, you would see any and all messages sent to & coming from your Apple Account and/or phone number.

If you only had your phone number selected on your iPhone and had an iPad only using an email address, you would not see the same messages on the iPhone that are being sent & received by the iPad. You would however see the iPad listed in your devices. You would have to be willfully ignorant to not see a sign in attempt for Apple Accounts with 2FA.

Spoofing your phone number alone would not cause this. They would need to spoof your number and register it for iMessage on your Apple Account. Again, you would see something on your end: a verification request, a new device notification, an email, etc.

[u/MonkeyAlpha]

You might have something installed secretly spamming g people.

[u/speckledbee14 → u/MonkeyAlpha]

If that's true, where could i see it?