Spam Controls FAQs

Spam Controls enable you to block unwanted messages and consist of two services, Call & Message Blocking and Internet Spam Controls. Verizon Wireless provides these free features to block certain phone numbers and Internet addresses from contacting you.

Spam Controls are not available for prepaid accounts. If you have a prepaid account, refer to the My Verizon for Prepaid FAQs to learn how you can block calls and messages.

Go to the Internet Spam Blocking page in My Verizon. You can block up to 15 email addresses, domains and/or text names.

If the message is originating from an email address or web domain, enter the email or domain to be blocked. Internet Spam Controls allow you to designate and block up to 15 email addresses, Vtext IDs and/or Internet domains from sending text or multimedia messages to you.

If the message is originating from a phone number, visit Call & Message Blocking and enter the phone number of the individual who you wish to block. Call & Message Blocking allows you to designate and block up to five phone numbers from sending text or multimedia messages to you.

You can't block numbers that are within your account or non-10-digit numbers such as 911, 411 or #MIN (to check minutes used).

Spam is considered an unsolicited commercial advertisement or any message that links to a virus or malicious software. Do not respond to the phone number or open any links in the message. Doing so could potentially compromise your personal information and/or your mobile device.

If the message is still on your device, follow the steps below to report the unwanted message:

1. Be careful not to open any links and forward the suspected spam text message to short code 7726 (SPAM).
2. Once received, we'll send you a text message asking for the "From" address.
3. Reply to us with the "From" address of the unwanted message listed in the body of your text message.
4. A free text message with a "Thank you" notification will be sent to you to verify receipt.
5. The investigation will begin.
   
   

If you are using Verizon Messages (Message+), follow the steps below to report spam:

1. Touch and hold the message. Be careful not to click on any links.
2. When the option menu appears select Report Spam.
3. The message will then be deleted from your device and you will be notified that the message was reported as spam.
4. The investigation will begin

You've successfully reported an unwanted text message.

Notes:

• You won't receive any further updates once you've received the final "Thank You" text message.

There are no charges for messages sent to or received from 7726.

To block certain phone numbers and Internet addresses from contacting you, follow these steps:

Go to the Verizon Family Safeguards & Controls page. From here you can set up Call & Message Blocking, Internet Spam Blocking, Service Blocks and more.

To block a specific number from calling you:

1. Go to the Call & Message Blocking page.
2. Enter the phone number(s) you wish to block.
3. Click Apply.

You will no longer receive calls or messages from this phone number.

Call & Message Blocking enables you to designate and block up to five phone numbers from calling you. You cannot block numbers that are within your account, nor can you block non-10-digit numbers such as 911, 411 or #MIN (to check minutes used).

Note: A Verizon FamilyBase® subscription is required to prevent your child from calling a blocked number.

 Note: The steps above apply to unblocking a number from the Call & Message Blocking page.

Yes, blocking will expire 90 days from the date of your first block. You can reestablish blocking by adding blocking preferences after they expire.

You can only block up to five phone numbers at one time. Also, blocks will expire 90 days from the date you set your first blocked number. You can reestablish Call & Message Blocking, by visiting My Verizon after the previous blocks expire.

Note: Apple® iMessage® won't be blocked. Messages from this service can be blocked by turning off the iMessage feature in the Settings > Messages menu of your Apple device.

Apple and iMessage are registered trademarks of Apple Inc

To unblock a blocked number on the Call & Message Blocking page:

1. Go to the Call & Message Blocking page in My Verizon.
2. Highlight the number you want to delete.
3. Press Delete on your keyboard.
4. Click Apply. The number will now be unblocked.
   
   

Usage Controls subscribers: The steps above apply to unblocking a number from the Call & Message Blocking page. With Usage Controls, the steps to unblock a number differ from these. Please refer to the Block / Unblock numbers - Usage Controls page for instructions.

Verizon Wireless uses sophisticated anti-spamming software to protect you from spammers. For those few messages that may get through, we offer Internet Spam Blocking.

Verizon Wireless supported the passage of federal legislation aimed at providing consumers with control over receipt of unsolicited electronic messages, or "spam." We employ tools in our network to detect incidences of spam sent to our customers' wireless devices, and we also provide customers with tools to manage and even restrict receipt of such messages.

Verizon Wireless has also been aggressive battling spam in Court. Over the past two years, Verizon Wireless has filed lawsuits against several companies it has accused of sending text message spam to its customers.

Companies and individuals who send unsolicited text messages to wireless phones violate the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act by using "auto-dialing" equipment to send large bursts of text messages to sequential phone numbers within very short periods of time. These spammers also often use deceptive means to hide the identity of who is sending the spam and to avoid filters that Verizon Wireless and other mobile operators use to prevent spam from reaching their customers.

Text messaging is a great and increasingly popular way to communicate, but unwanted or unsolicited text message spam to our customers' handsets is unacceptable. Verizon Wireless has a long track record of protecting our customers' privacy, including through lawsuits, and will continue to do so. Verizon Wireless remains committed to defending the strong wall of customer privacy we've built over the years through its network practices and its industry leading pro-consumer policies.

For those messages which do get through, Verizon Wireless provides Internet Spam Blocking to enable customers to block spam from reaching their device.

Internet Spam Block

You can block certain text messages through the following steps:

1. Go to My Plan & Services in My Verizon.
2. Select Verizon Family Safeguards & Controls.
3. Select Spam Controls.

Options include blocking all messages sent from the web, or designating certain addresses from which you don't want to receive text messages.