How to block cell phone spam

If you have a cell phone, you have probably received one of those annoying spam messages from someone you don't know. Cell phone spam has become a problem recently and experts are predicting it will only get worse. New forms of marketing include cell phone advertising. Google is currently working toward releasing their own cell phone that will include advertisements; think of how this will impact you as a cell phone user. While this new innovation is yet to be released; it is making many people weary of how to avoid unwanted cell phone spam.

According to Ferris Research, a San Francisco-based company, U.S. consumers are expected to receive around 1.5 billion unwanted text messages in 2008. Cell phone spam can be costly for individuals if they are charged per text message received on their cell phone. Most people do not know how to register their phone for unsolicited cell phone spam. Cell phone spam is typically sent by email to your phone using an internet address. You can block the actual website address from your phone by setting up a filter.

Here are some ways to block cell phone spam:

Contact your carrier and see if there is a way to block text messages from your phone. Depending upon your carrier, you may be charged 10-20 cents per text message you receive. Most of the major cell phone companies allow you to block incoming text messages. You will have to either go online or call a special number and request this feature. T-mobile is the only major company that will not disable text messaging. The text messaging feature on their customers accounts are mandatory and cannot be disabled.

You can filter your text messages on your cell phone. For most cell phone companies, you will need to log into your account online and set up a number of cell phone filters. You can block or allow certain email addresses, internet domains, and other cell phone numbers from sending messages to your phone. With some companies, you can even establish an alias that people can use to send you emails on your phone.

As soon as you receive a spam message on your cell phone, you need to contact your provider as soon as possible. Inform your provider that you are getting spam messages so you aren't charged for them.

If you continue to receive cell phone spam, file a complaint with the FCC. You can also register your cell phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry. This will block telemarketers from sending communications to your cell phone.

Another thing you can do to block cell phone spam is avoid downloading free or inexpensive ring tones and games from third-party vendors. When you download from third-party vendors, you are putting yourself at risk for spam messages and other things like fraudulent charges and identity theft. You should never download anything onto your cell phone from a service you don't know and don't trust.

Cell phone spam still isn't as bad as computer spam, but it is growing. Cell phone spam is more annoying than computer spam because you can be charged per message you receive and your phone will ring or vibrate each time you receive a message. If you are receiving cell phone spam on a consistent basis, you may even need to consider changing your cell phone number of the above tips didn't resolve the problem.

In 2005, the CAN-SPAM Act was passed to prohibit commercial e-mail and text messages to be sent to cell phones without express prior authorization. As with other laws, there are loopholes and non-commercial organizations and political campaigns can still send you a text message to your cell phone.