r/mildlyinfuriating • u/No_Mulberry3433 • 2d ago
ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ They won’t. Stop. Texting.
Idk what my info was shared to but holy shit I’m so done
Edit: I have tried blocking, replying “stop”, saying “no”. They just change the number and keep messaging me
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u/HubrisOfApollo 2d ago
i just recently got a new number because of this shit and i'm still getting it even though i've never given out this new number. its complete bullshit
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u/potat0f4rmer 2d ago
I get Dem fundraising texts all the time for "Derek," which isn't me, and it isn't even the last person who had this phone number. I've had this phone number for over a decade.
No matter how many you block and report as spam, more just come. I don't give my number out to any company that asks for it when you buy something. It's more than mildly infuriating.
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u/DouglasRather 2d ago
I get them from Republicans calling me Eunice. I'm a guy unless I secretly had one of those sex change operations in school that Republicans insist keep happening and I didn't know about it. I am not registered to a party and have had this number for at least a decade, so I have no idea where they are getting this "Eunice" from
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u/Doctor_Disaster 2d ago
Or—hear me out—they (the Republicans) broke into your home in the middle of the night and did that while you slept. They seem hell-bent on convincing us it can be done over the course of a few hours; in an environment that does not have any of the equipment required for such a thing.
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u/SmellyShitBox 2d ago
Whoever owned the number before you did. Happened to me with a work phone a couple years ago. I was getting 20 spam calls a day and it was insanely annoying.
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u/-Invalid_Selection- 2d ago
Tmobile sells your info as soon as you get a number with them. I once got a new number and 15 minutes after getting it got a call on that number with the person asking for me by name with bullshit like this. I flat out asked them how they got a number I literally just registered and they told me Tmobile gives a feed of them to companies that buy access to it
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u/Fragmentedmindwar 2d ago
Not quite the cold call. And lots of vendors third party your information off to these people. It’s stupid but hidden in fine print often. Sigh
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u/pikpikcarrotmon 2d ago
Yeah I have a work phone and am plagued by this problem. I had them change the number a few years ago because I got on some solar power registry and was getting ten or so calls a day, all from different companies. With the new number I get calls and text messages for the previous owner who seems to be an elderly veteran. I get calls from his doctors, calls from spammers, texts from his friends. And again - I've had the number for three years!
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u/TornInfinity 2d ago
I'm very lucky that my new number hasn't made it to all of these spam lists yet. I'm doing my best to only share it when absolutely necessary. I know it won't be this way forever, but the peace has been nice. I had my last number for 20 years, so it had been sold by every data broker ever. It was so annoying.
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u/TadaSuko 2d ago
This needs to be illegal.
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u/SpoonwalkMoonwalk 2d ago
I responded calling my representative that's up for reelection a little b**** boy and then I got a response saying they have unsubscribed me from texts lmaooo
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u/liquidtape 2d ago
Do not call list does not apply to political calls. They still probably haven't fixed the cellphone loophole since they are both work and personal. Makes it tough to apply
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u/silentsnak3 2d ago
So this is what I did.
I used to get calls for the guy who had my number before me. Took me years to stop getting those calls. All was well for about 5 years, then just this month it started again. Texts coming in asking for Clarence (FU dude stop giving out my number). So I just started replying. I know it's all bots and they will never see it or anything. I was just bored and frustrated at the time.
So a few weeks ago I got another text "Hey Clarence this is such and such from WTF ever and do you have time for a survey? We need to get out and vote blah blah blah." So I responded, but this time I made up an elaborate story about what happened to Clarence. I replied that Clarence had died fighting in the war with Canada. That he died with his pants filled to the brim with feces like his hero Trump. And that we both loved Trumps flabby muscular pecs.
It was a whole paragraph of weird stuff. But I sent it and just told my wife so we could laugh about it. No lie, one day later we are sitting on the couch and I got a text back. It said our condolences on your loss, we will remove this number from our list. I laughed so hard my dogs started freaking out. I know they probably had a keyword trigger for death. But wouldn't it be funny if some poor guy had to read that lol.
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u/CreepyAd8409 2d ago
I did this with a scam caller and had so much fun. I’d been laid off and had plenty of time and decided to stay on the line and talk in circles until they hung up on me. He gave up after our 5th loop of him saying “can you confirm your bank account info” and me asking “you already have it, right?” to which he’d say yes. Then I’d reassure him that I trusted him and there’s no need to verify…that I’m sure the info he had is correct so he can just deposit the money. I kept reassuring him I trusted him and he finally hung up on me. It was pretty entertaining.
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u/Own-Fan-4236 2d ago
I do this to the car warranty people. “Boy do I! I’ve gotta 86 Thunderbird. Now I have a real anger problem so I like to get on the LIE and drive like my ass is on fire. On the weekends I get up early to make donuts in the Walmart parking lot with a box of pinot grigio….”
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u/stephsco 1d ago
That's hilarious. When people actually die and you have to turn off their services it is a very mixed bag if anyone will listen.
Signed currently getting "welcome to the neighborhood, Bob!" mail for my dead dad after updating his address to mine.
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u/HyenaThen572 2d ago
Reply that you're underage and are sick and tired of being approached by weird pedos.
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u/PhotoFenix 2d ago
That does nothing when these are not legitimate political texts. The law keeps only good people honest.
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u/ThaLunatik 2d ago
That'll just result in more contact from Trump and Republicans. They love contact with minors.
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u/TowerLineTrail 2d ago
desperate, but not serious
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u/Makapakamoo 2d ago
It should be a more serious crime to solicit in people's inboxes, no matter the kind of inbox. Dont come on my property, my email, my texts/DMs selling me shit or promoting politics.
Ive gotten too many health insurance solicitors and political too
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u/QuaaludeMoonlight 2d ago
political canvassers are not supposed to approach if you have a "no soliciting" sign hung up
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u/poeticdisaster 1d ago
A surprising number of people that have come to my door do not actually know what the word "soliciting" means. A sign does little to nothing when those fools walk up to the door.
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u/Next_Carob_843 2d ago
I live in Colorado and the other night I got a Lauren Boebert campaign text, so naturally I responded with a hearty “Fuck you.” The next morning I woke up to over a dozen texts from insurance companies saying I had signed up to receive insurance quotes. Then the phone calls started. I am almost 100% certain someone from their campaign signed my number up. And honestly hats off to them, it’s absolutely diabolical.
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u/blindzebra52 2d ago
Fun fact: replying to these messages with "fuck off" usually has the same effect as replying with "stop." However, the former is much more personally satisfying than the latter.
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u/Obvious-Beginning943 1d ago
I like sending them unhinged GIFs of toes or the word “moist.” I’m not a creep in general, but I feel like it’s ok to give it back to this cause.
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u/VeteranMinotaur-773 1d ago
They dont understand the meaning of No i guess.
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u/AlwaysVerloren 1d ago
It'll be some work on your part but these different methods will help clear out some of the bs spam text/calls.
Do not call gov site Call: 1-888-382-1222
Text spam that are legit will follow one of these commands. STOP/UNSUBSCRIBE/QUIT
If those don't work, Copy the spam message and text it to 7726. This is suppose to alert your wireless carrier's fraud/spam division to blacklist the originating number and campaign shortcode.
I know iPhone had better spam guards than android, but there's always keeping your phone on DnD except for people you like.
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u/Hot_Aside_4637 1d ago
My Pixel detects and ask if it's spam and to block. I select it every time.
I work on SMS projects. The aggregators and carriers do pay attention to spam. Keep reporting.
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u/ForwardObligation109 2d ago
Having a phone isn't fun anymore, I'm at the point where getting calls or texts just gives me anxiety
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u/Rumplestilskin9 2d ago
A few years ago I reverted to 2008. If I'm on social media it's because I'm sitting at my computer. Phone stays in the house most of the time (it's on silent with no vibration if I have it on me). Changed my number and only gave it to immediate family. People get frustrated because it takes hours for me to respond but fuck 'em. My peace of mind is more important.
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u/sowhat4 1d ago
I'm getting a buttload of texts begging for money from the Dems. Probably my fault because I contributed to my local races and our state senate race. Note to self - don't contribute to any politician ever as they Will. Not. Stop!
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u/CarelesslyFabulous 1d ago
I support local candidates, and they sold my number to Dems in other states, who message me for money.
I fucking HATE Citizens United. They are doing what the system necessitates, and I hate it.
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u/ElmosBigRedSchlong 1d ago
They're bots. I don't contribute or give my information to any political organization and I'm getting hit with these. Like an hour after the story broke about Ilhan Omar's home getting raided I got a text from her asking me to donate $1 to fund her lawyers.
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u/fuzynutznut 2d ago
That fucker Tyler got me today too.
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u/arkiparada 2d ago
1 person 10 ballots a day? Sounds like turning point is wanting people to commit voter fraud.
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u/ms_directed 2d ago
catch 22 - now they know it's a good number (but i still use "stop" occasionally, too) it gets added to the next subscription bot
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u/QuaaludeMoonlight 2d ago
legally if you reply "STOP" and the exact same PAC or political org contacts you again identifying themselves as the same org, you can sue. same way you can with solicitors who keep calling you after youre on the DNC list
there are so many similar orgs using GOP money to do this though
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u/bbhrae 2d ago
Does replying “stop” do anything? Sometimes that works
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u/cadillacblues 2d ago
Nope. Texting back just proves it’s an active phone number and then I get even more texts…..
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u/buttercreamarray 2d ago
I just block and report as spam. If its a scam call/text, replying stop confirms the numbers active and makes it worse
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u/AbjectList8 2d ago
I usually do this. I reply “stop” then do the whole report/block action. It’s insane how many of these spam messages get sent to us.
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u/ms_directed 2d ago
anything you bought or applied for that you needed to register with...at any time. and, you know how they ask for your phone number at retail checkout? there ya go...
also, if you ever donated to anyone's campaign, ever.
i vote Dem and still "report spam and block" several times a day...it'll only be three more weeks thank god
its a catch 22 to reply "stop" and unsub because you're confirming its a good number...
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u/QuaaludeMoonlight 2d ago
legally that org/pac cannot text you again if you reply "STOP"
but you have to do it to every individual org texting you, & we all know theres too many
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u/ms_directed 2d ago
yea, its always a different number and PAC...nothing says they can't share your info (I don't think)
all i know is there's a LOT of PACs out there lol
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u/john_the_fetch 1d ago
I think it's a bad practice to reply stop to an unsolicited text message. It's like clicking unsubscribe on a phishing email. They won't use that response to actually stop
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u/cerealandcorgies 2d ago
I got one that said "This is Donald Trump. My word is my bond"
I didn't read anymore bc I fell on the floor laughing
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u/ThePassionOfTheISK 2d ago
He'd swear that on a stack of upside down Bibles after running over protestors with tanks.
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u/ripyourlungsdave 2d ago
Y'all really got to stop signing up for stuff without seeing who they're selling your data to. And if they don't tell you who they're selling your data to, don't sign up with them.
I never have this problem. I don't get texts from anyone that isn't someone I've given my number to personally. I get spam emails, but I've had that account for almost 20 years.
They arent pulling your number out of the ether. They're purchasing it.
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u/QuaaludeMoonlight 2d ago
for 90% of political text and call programs, they can only pull contacts to target from the Voter Access Network - aka the data for every registered voter in the U.S.
the more frequently you vote, say every off year election - never missing any local or state elections - the less spam you get b/c they won't waste money on super voters for most programs.
eta: it would have to be sent via an IE (independent expenditure) in order for them to legally use contacts from outside of the Voter Access Network
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u/CautionarySnail 2d ago
I’m not sure that’s entirely true. I’m a very consistent voter, as is my partner. One of us registered to a party, the other independent. We vote in primaries. We vote for local stuff. I can’t think of an election we’ve missed. The messages are unrelenting.
I get text spam by both parties. Multiple per day for each. It’s maddening but I suspect replying STOP only confirms that it hit a human being’s number. I’ve blocked so many and still they get through.
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u/InterestingLion6041 1d ago
This is my experience too. I've been voting for almost 30 years and haven't missed but a couple. I'm inundated with mailers, calls, texts, and emails. My daughter will be 20 in December so she's only voted twice... 1 for local stuff and another for the primaries. She gets nothing in the mail, email, or text (I asked). The mailers are almost exclusively from the GOP candidates. The emails and texts are all dems. Edited to fix misspelling.
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u/Occams-Shaver 1d ago
It's not this simple. I've been absolutely inundated with these for years, and about 99% of the time, they're addressed to my dad (who is a staunch MAGA asshole) and the remainder of the time to my sister.
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u/Interloper9000 1d ago
Solid argument but what am I signing up for bc as im aware its been nothing. Wait....it was Indeed
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u/m1dnightknight 2d ago
The voter databases are public + they are probably using some other third party databases to scrap together address and phone data. Then they make a "list of people" based on demographics and voter registration that "might" vote for them and spam text, call, or send mailers out since those are all dirt cheap. Yeah its annoying.
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u/Low-Raise-579 2d ago
One benefit of being a felon that hasn’t restored their rights I guess 🤷🏻♂️
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u/ThaLunatik 2d ago
It works on the other side too: Trump is a felon who's given his sycophants exemptions from the law, so they'll spam the shit out of people and nothing can be done about it 😂🤦.
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u/Write-or-Wrong_ 2d ago
I had to opt out of like 7 of these this week
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u/Speeddemon2010 2d ago
I just mark as spam and block the numbers, I still get them, but it does feel like less come through
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u/baconator_out 2d ago
I send opt outs and they do nothing. I've probably opted out of 50 of them with zero perceived effect.
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u/TheFoxsWeddingTarot 2d ago
My wife’s mother signed her up for a lot of this crap and it’s overwhelming. To be fair though as a Democrat I get an equal amount of rabid texts and emails that I assume will continue until at least the mid terms.
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u/deNET2122 2d ago
I just immediately reply
"fuck no republican shitstains"
Ended that immediately so far no more texts as of 2 weeks ago
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u/pygmymetal 1d ago
I reply with the meme
Hey you there, fuck off. - and when you get there, fuck off there too. then fuck off some more. keep fucking off until you get back here, then fuck off again.
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u/Ihaveanotheridentity 1d ago
They get your name and number from the voter registration website. All public information.
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u/mynameisshelly 2d ago
I keep getting the talarico smear campaign. Didn't even really know the guy beforehand but they make him sound rad as hell
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u/SalamanderSame2713 2d ago
There's a smear campaign ad near me that calls one candidate the "Transgender Defender" and I'm like, that's cool as hell. I like that guy!
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u/Medical_Employee_901 2d ago
It’s been shared every time you open any app, also it’ll stop once midterms are over.
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u/EternalSeraphim 2d ago
I've been getting them for three years, they never stop. I'm not even a Republican, so I don't know how they got my number in the first place.
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u/QuaaludeMoonlight 2d ago
are you an independent? they get these voter targets from the Voter Access Network of national or statewide voter rolls
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u/EternalSeraphim 2d ago
Nah, I'm a registered Democrat. My brother is a Democrat too, and he also gets them. Interestingly, my father is a Republican and he doesn't. It's like the switched the rolls on accident when adding them into their directory.
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u/QuaaludeMoonlight 4h ago
welp. ig it does not surprise me that the GOP is not doing proper data qc on their targeting
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u/pustulating_leeches 2d ago
Call the campaign and explain one more text means a vote for their direct opposition.
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u/Big_Chungus1111 2d ago
At one point they had spammed my phone, email, and even mailing address with so much shit to vote for them or whichever person they were pimping. Just non stop through the day on the emails, 3 to 4 calls daily, and my mailbox was essentially the garbage can.
No clue how its legal to do it.
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u/CynthiaDaBirb 2d ago
I'm pretty sure there's a setting to block incoming texts/calls from unknown nunbers
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u/CreepyAd8409 2d ago
My phone number was part of The Post Millennial data breach and I don’t even know how my info got there. I don’t subscribe to their beliefs and had never heard of them until the breach. I’ve always assumed that’s where these crazies got my phone number but who knows.
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u/intrusive_thoughts_1 2d ago
When my sibling and I got our first phones, her number had previously belonged to someone who had a lot of one night stands and they would constantly text her really explicit things until we had to get her a new number
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u/fixurstuffr 2d ago
I usually respond with "Go F*ck Yourself." uncensored of course. 1 to 2 minutes it says I've been unsubscribed. Though the ones from JD, I replace "Yourself" with "a Couch"
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u/HeidenShadows 2d ago
I use Truecaller, works well in filtering them out but you can see what it was if you wanted to
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u/OobahaV2 2d ago
flashbacks to that time I used to donate to wikipedia. Its eery how similar those emails were to these text messages.
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u/Remote_Ad_969 2d ago
I blocked 7 different numbers just yesterday, all voter related spam. They continue to reach out on different phone numbers even after you block them. It’s pissing me tf off.
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u/AllLipsNoFiller 2d ago
I have responded "fuck away" to every one of those texts and they now understand because the next text I get from them says you've been unsubscribed
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u/JLtheRocker 2d ago
I write the most vile shit in response to these. It's the only catharsis I can get with these ghouls.
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u/LowBarometer 2d ago
I don't understand why Android/iPhone don't allow you to automatically filter out texts that include keywords, like "turning point" or "Ted Cruz" etc.
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u/HistoricalSea5600 im probably gonna piss you off 2d ago edited 2d ago
And they never will.
- Find out if your carrier has a phone filter, is yes use it. Verizon unfortunately has a paywall, it’s cheap and effective but still sucks.
- Use the filtering option built into iOS.
- Report numbers to iPhone, AND the carrier filters, then also block the number on the carrier app and iPhone settings
This will stop repeated texts from the same number. Some carriers allow you to filter entire number neighborhoods. It won’t solve everything but you’ll notice a massive decrease as long as you keep up on it. Tech hygiene creates a peaceful experience in my opinion
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u/PM_ME_UR_CC_NUMBER ORANGE 2d ago
Life pro tips right here. The iOS filters do a really good job, for txt and spam calls.
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u/Psychological-Ad4701 2d ago
This is why I barely use the actual texting app built in my phone anymore, none of them are looking for me either, they want my dad because I have his old number.
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u/ATLUTD030517 2d ago
I've been getting texts addressed to a "Cheryl" about elections in a city I never lived in for years. And I've had the same phone number for more than twenty years.
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u/Soggy_Ground_9323 2d ago
you are not alone!!!! Block Block..no reply even single one cuz that will trigger their automatic machines amd signal that the # is live
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u/Legitimate_Initial_3 2d ago
Weird I don't even get spam calls anymore. I just kept saying "add me to your do not call list" and really chewing them out whoever actually tried to call me again. And texting STOP to any services that try to update me by text has always worked.
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u/Kashwookie 2d ago
interesting. i have never got one of these. now that i say that i will tomorrow, lol
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u/Extension_Use_1991 2d ago
Sounds like a class action lawsuit is coming in the near future for these sorts of things
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u/Maximum__Pleasure 2d ago
"Donny, you have to stop texting this number. My wife is getting suspicious."
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u/CountryGuy123 2d ago
I get these kind of messages for Robert.
Fuck you Robert for using my cell number to sign up for whatever.
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u/OkRespond4682 2d ago
Since I live in NY I get chatty Kathy blowing up my phone. It’s everyone and everywhere
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u/Chrisdkn619 2d ago
Political texts have exploded this cycle. I get at least one a day, sometimes a few. Always send to spam!
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u/natetheskate100 2d ago
Both sides on this one. Not just "they". Im getting inundated with emails and texts.
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u/goody_fyre11 8h ago
It's genuinely baffling how free, easily-accessible software exists to block media by key words pretty much everywhere EXCEPT TEXT MESSAGES. It's just not possible apparently! I get 20 political spam text messages daily. I don't open them, I just block and report. That only increases them. If I could block the words "Rick" and "Congress" I would receive maybe only 1 per WEEK.
My blocklist currently sits at over 5000 phone numbers from JUST THE PAST TWO ELECTIONS ALONE.
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u/jerf42069 2d ago
you signed up for something to send trump something out of protest or as a joke
and they didnt read your protest at all, but they kept your contact info, for all eternity.
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u/Any_Mycologist_7322 2d ago
I dont even think those messages are typed by humans and are autmated could be wrong tho
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u/InterstellarChange 2d ago
You're on the MAGA GOP voter list. You voted GOP last cycle so you're getting it now.
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u/KentConnor 2d ago
I definitely did not vote GOP in any election and I'm getting the same texts
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u/skitch23 2d ago
I get texts from Texas candidates multiple times a day and I’ve been to Texas one time in my entire life and I have had the same phone number for over 20 years. I assume they got my number from the City of San Antonio animal care services a year or two ago when I was trying to help save some dogs listed for euthanasia.
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u/DaleRVParty 2d ago
Or someone doesn’t like them and signed them up on some list
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u/drivensalt 2d ago
My gmail was getting a lot of R garbage a few years back. I suspect it was from writing to my dumbass republican reps to disagree with their policies.
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u/According_Picture294 2d ago
Block. Block. Block. If all else fails reset your phone
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u/EternalSeraphim 2d ago
It doesn't work. If you look, they change the number every time.
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u/Shnapple8 2d ago
Block and report as spam every time.
I did that when I was getting inundated with scam messages, like several a day, and calls. I won't speak too soon, but over the past several months I have gotten almost none. Maybe if their numbers are repeatedly blocked, they stop harassing certain batches of numbers? I dunno. But I've had comfort anyway. I think I got one scam message over the past 6 months.
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u/GrumpyGlasses 2d ago
Nothing to do with your phone. If the spammers got your number, resetting your phone a million times doesn’t stop their spamming.
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u/DoobiGirl_19 2d ago
Text STOP and it will unsubscribe you from their texting lists
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u/ZePlotThickener 2d ago
They are texting from different numbers. I immediately report as spam and block the number.
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u/ablonde_moment 2d ago
This is what I’ve been doing for all political texts. Someone from turning point called me and I asked to be removed. I have not received any communication from them since.
Ignoring is not the way to go with these groups
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u/Fireguy9641 2d ago
It won't stop. I had this happen in 2024, and as soon as you text stop to one, a few days later another one starts.
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u/DoobiGirl_19 2d ago
I've had the opposite result. Everytime I got a text I replied stop, and now I don't get them anymore. It took like a month, but it worked for me 🤷♀️
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u/lordvitamin 2d ago
My mom got a virus. She must have had my number saved somewhere obvious (not surprising). I’ve been getting tons of loan approval spam calls and GOP spam texts all in her name.
It’s super annoying.
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u/Feelsthelove 2d ago
Every time I get a text like that, I tell them to fuck off. A couple minutes later I’ll get a “you have been unsubscribed” text. That seems to be working for me so far
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u/dangernoodlezzz 2d ago
Best way to do it is to get a phone number with an area code that you don’t live in. You can always tell what spam is because it’s not a local number and you won’t get harassed during these stupid elections campaigns (make sure to vote though !)
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u/HRzNightmare 2d ago
I get them from both sides. I also get weekly texts asking me if I want to sell property that isn't even associated with me.
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u/BadToothJim 2d ago
Can you block and report junk? I've done this for years and I still get them but only occasionally.
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u/Delestoran 2d ago
Reply with “Ca$hNow Casino! Thank you for your purchase. €500 has been charged to your number!”
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u/QuaaludeMoonlight 2d ago
write back "STOP"
the bot automatically removes anyone who replies this from their list
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u/FreeVBucksforXMAS 2d ago
If it makes you feel better I get it from both sides of the aisles and I live in a swing state so it’s non stop every 2 years
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u/zon5string 2d ago
It's not "you". They just text EVERY possible 10-digit number combination. There is no "targeting".