Questions about junk text messages

[Brad Bilger]

For the past few days, since the first I've been hammered with Spam Text messages. Sent out to groups of about 20 apparently random numbers. Prior to New Years eve, I usually got about 1 or 2 a week. Since the first, I've gotten 6-7 a day. All of them seem to originate from a *.gmail.com account. Occasionally, the origination seems to be a regular number, but with random Area Codes. The recipient list includes random Area Codes with some to various @mms.cricketwireless.net accounts. These are coming in at all hours of the day (and night.... Thank you Samsung for the Do Not Disturb feature) All of them contain either invites to porn sites, or random characters that are a link to something. Of which I've clicked on none of them.

My firmware is up today, running FTK2 from AT&T, who might be part of my problem. Has anyone out there been hammered like this since New Years Eve? Just curious before I start chasing this uphill.

 

[serpent2005]

I have not experienced what you are describing. Did you install a new app recently? I switched to use Google messages some time ago because I think it does a better job of filtering spam.

 

[Brad Bilger]

Nothing added. As a matter of fact, I deleted a couple that I never used. I've had a few updates but I wouldn't think that would attract spammers. LOL

 

[Brad Bilger]

Oh yeah... And I'm using Textra

 

[B. Diddy]

This is a relatively common complaint, and it looks like AT&T unfortunately doesn't have a good solution: https://forums.att.com/conversation...from-email-addresses/5df0103fbad5f2f6063428f7. I know that T-Mobile has an option to block texts from email addresses, so it's too bad other carriers don't implement that.

 

[Ranjen617]

I've experienced this after getting my Note 20 Ultra in October. I used to never have this issue until then. Some of these I cannot report any thus cannot be blocked using the Sprint spam blocker. I've tried and tried to see where these have came from to no avail myself. Very disappointing...

 

[Brad Bilger]

This is a relatively common complaint, and it looks like AT&T unfortunately doesn't have a good solution: https://forums.att.com/conversation...from-email-addresses/5df0103fbad5f2f6063428f7. I know that T-Mobile has an option to block texts from email addresses, so it's too bad other carriers don't implement that.

Sigh... you know?? You're a lot of help... LOL.. Just kidding.. I've gotten 3 more this morning so far. Different Email accounts. But I did notice something. On about 3/4 of the spam mail, the list of recipients is the same. So there's about 20 of us out there getting the same crap.. Sigh.. Textra does have a feature to blocklist the sender, but it doesn't work with the sender spamming email address. Getting to where between the spam text messages, and the spam phone calls and the spam Facebook messenger, they are sucking the fun out of these things.. LOL..

 

[B. Diddy]

Sigh... you know?? You're a lot of help... LOL.. Just kidding.

LOL I know, I'm sorry. I totally agree, this is an infuriatingly insidious problem.

 

[mache62]

So let me add that I have had my Note 9 for a couple years, haven't installed any new apps and started getting the same spam text messages as well. My understanding is that you need to call At&t and request that they block emails to text for you number. I haven't called them yet because it's been getting more infrequent since the holidays are over.

 

[mustang7757]

I'm on the unlocked firmware with Att no issues, I would try Google message app as it has spam filters

 

[Brad Bilger]

I'm on the unlocked firmware with Att no issues, I would try Google message app as it has spam filters

I use Textra which has some blocking features also. All mine have been coming in as a group message, 20 numbers to a group, all sent from random, spoofed email addresses from a gmail.com domain. Unfortunately, Textra doesn't have the feature of blocking a domain sending texts. And a large chunk of these messages are going out to the same 20 numbers. Most also have no message other that random letters and numbers as a quick link. They show as a hyperlink but I ain't about to click it. LOL

 

[mache62]

I'm on the unlocked firmware with Att no issues, I would try Google message app as it has spam filters

Yes, I am unlocked as well. I just use the standard Samsung message app that comes with the phone.

 

[mustang7757]

I use Textra which has some blocking features also. All mine have been coming in as a group message, 20 numbers to a group, all sent from random, spoofed email addresses from a gmail.com domain. Unfortunately, Textra doesn't have the feature of blocking a domain sending texts. And a large chunk of these messages are going out to the same 20 numbers. Most also have no message other that random letters and numbers as a quick link. They show as a hyperlink but I ain't about to click it. LOL

Gotcha, try Google see if it has better ability to block spam.

 

[mustang7757]

Yes, I am unlocked as well. I just use the standard Samsung message app that comes with the phone.

I do switch between Google and stock

 

[Brad Bilger]

Tried Google.. Same issues.. switched back to Textra. I got another message a while ago from a another gmail address. Sent to another 20 people. Blocklisted the initial sender. Now for the past hour, I've gotten messages from the other 20 people saying "Stop", "Cancel", "End", "I'm gonna kick your A$$". Sigh. I wish that they would make this stuff a criminal offence. The feds could make a ton of money off the fines they could hit them with.

 

[mustang7757]

Tried Google.. Same issues.. switched back to Textra. I got another message a while ago from a another gmail address. Sent to another 20 people. Blocklisted the initial sender. Now for the past hour, I've gotten messages from the other 20 people saying "Stop", "Cancel", "End", "I'm gonna kick your A$$". Sigh. I wish that they would make this stuff a criminal offence. The feds could make a ton of money off the fines they could hit them with.

Maybe try calling Att see if they can do anything on their end ?

 

[Brad Bilger]

Maybe try calling Att see if they can do anything on their end ?

Well, I hope that this fixed it. I found a thread on the AT&T Community board ( https://forums.att.com/conversation...ers-latest-technique/5df02b91bad5f2f606e8c5d2) That states that they found a solution to the spam text messages originating from Email Accounts. So I called AT&T and tried it. After fighting the automated attendants, I finally got hold of a real person. I explained the problem and she suggested that I change my number (No!) I gave her the article number mentioned in the other thread and she said that she had heard something about it from someone else. So she gave it a shot and found that her authorization wasn't high enough to make that change to my account. So she transferred me to Tech support. This is when I was promptly disconnected.

Called back, and finally was able to bypass the Tier I Support and managed to make it to Tier II. Tier II personnel suggested that I change my number (NO!!) Had another nice lady who hadn't heard about the instruction article, but read it and said it shouldn't be any trouble to change. Then we found out that the authorization exceeded her level.

She contacted her supervisor, explained the problem and the supervisor said "No Problem" and set my account up so that I no longer can receive any SMS or MMS messages that originate from any Email domain. To finalize the changes, I was told to shut my phone off for 30 seconds and then reboot it.

Total time on the phone, right at an hour. Total time listening to the most annoying on hold music, an eternity. Now I can go back to Textra and delete the several hundred spammed email addresses I got listed.

<sigh>

 

[mustang7757]

Well, I hope that this fixed it. I found a thread on the AT&T Community board ( https://forums.att.com/conversation...ers-latest-technique/5df02b91bad5f2f606e8c5d2) That states that they found a solution to the spam text messages originating from Email Accounts. So I called AT&T and tried it. After fighting the automated attendants, I finally got hold of a real person. I explained the problem and she suggested that I change my number (No!) I gave her the article number mentioned in the other thread and she said that she had heard something about it from someone else. So she gave it a shot and found that her authorization wasn't high enough to make that change to my account. So she transferred me to Tech support. This is when I was promptly disconnected.

Called back, and finally was able to bypass the Tier I Support and managed to make it to Tier II. Tier II personnel suggested that I change my number (NO!!) Had another nice lady who hadn't heard about the instruction article, but read it and said it shouldn't be any trouble to change. Then we found out that the authorization exceeded her level.

She contacted her supervisor, explained the problem and the supervisor said "No Problem" and set my account up so that I no longer can receive any SMS or MMS messages that originate from any Email domain. To finalize the changes, I was told to shut my phone off for 30 seconds and then reboot it.

Total time on the phone, right at an hour. Total time listening to the most annoying on hold music, an eternity. Now I can go back to Textra and delete the several hundred spammed email addresses I got listed.

<sigh>

Hopefully everything stays that way , thanks for the update