How to Protect Yourself: Stop Spam Texts and Phishing Links

LAST UPDATED: DEC 17, 2024

Spam texts are unwanted or unsolicited messages sent to your phone by companies or unknown senders. Spam texts can be annoying, intrusive, and even pose a threat, as they often serve as a gateway to scams.

Why Do I Keep Getting Spam Text Messages?

Here are a few reasons why you receive a lot of spam text messages:

• Unintentional Sign-ups: Sometimes, we inadvertently subscribe to services that send marketing text messages without realizing it.
• Privacy Breaches: Your phone number may have been leaked or made public through various means, leaving you vulnerable to unsolicited texts.
• Infected Devices: If one of your contacts has a compromised device, it could be sending spam texts to everyone in its address book. Malicious apps can also be responsible for distributing spam.

Enjoy Spam-Free Message Experience with Trend Micro ScamCheck

Trend Micro ScamCheck is your trusty sidekick in the battle against spam texts and phishing links. Here's how Trend Micro ScamCheck can help:

1. Set it as Your Default SMS App in Android or Default Message Filtering App in iOS

   Trend Micro ScamCheck filters out suspicious text messages and sends them to the Junk folder without notifying you. Our SMS Filter is powered by the world’s largest spam and scam text database!

2. Generate a Second Phone Number

   Trend Micro ScamCheck lets you generate a temporary number that you can use for one-time services, contacts, or people you are unsure of, absolutely FREE. You can later view the messages sent to this temporary number within the app.

3. Use Lookup

   Trend Micro ScamCheck helps you check the reputation of a phone number or a website before you share your personal information with them. You can use the Lookup tab in the app to reverse lookup a scammer phone number or check if a link is a scam website.

How to Block Spam and Scam Texts with Trend Micro ScamCheck

1. Open the Trend Micro ScamCheck app.
2. Go to the SMS Filter tab, then choose from these two Filters:
   • Keyword Filter: Blocks texts by Keyword or Phone Number.
     1. Select from the recent spam texts the app detected, then tap Add.
     2. Tap + to add more Keywords or Phone Numbers.
   • Smart Filter: Get extra protection. Enable any of these options:
     • Unknown senders
     • Texts with links
     • Email-to-text messages
     • Short phone numbers
3. Texts that match these rules will go to the Junk folder in Trend Micro ScamCheck app and you won’t get notified.

As an added layer of protection, we've included the Phone Leak Checker, allowing you to verify if your personal number has been exposed in any data breaches.

With Trend Micro ScamCheck, you have all the tools you need to put an end to spam messages and phishing scams—all in one simple app. It's time to take back control of your phone and enjoy a spam-free mobile experience.