How to block and report scam text messages on iPhone or Android

Phone Safety

A scam text can make an ordinary day feel urgent very quickly. It might mention a missed parcel, a banking problem, a security code, a payment issue, or a link that claims to fix everything in one tap.

The safest response is not to argue with the message and not to panic. In most cases, the best next step is to avoid the link, block the sender, and report the message properly so your phone provider or messaging app can take action.

Why replying is usually a bad idea

Ofcom’s current advice is simple: if the sender is unknown, do not reply, even to opt out. A reply can confirm that your number is active, which may encourage more spam later.

That means even a message that says Reply STOP is not always worth trusting if it did not come from a sender you already know.

First decide what kind of message it is

This helps because reporting options are slightly different depending on how the message arrived.

• SMS text: a standard mobile text message sent through the mobile network.
• iMessage: Apple’s messaging service between Apple devices.
• RCS: a richer style of message that may appear in Google Messages on Android.
• App message: something sent in WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Facebook Messenger, or another app.

Ofcom says it is helpful to use both the built-in reporting tools on your phone and the 7726 reporting route where possible, especially for suspicious SMS texts.

What to do before you report it

1. Do not tap any link in the message.
2. Do not call any number shown in the message.
3. Do not reply.
4. If you may need to explain it to a bank, family member, or support helper later, take a screenshot first.
5. Then report and block it.

If you already opened a suspicious link, our guide on what to do after tapping a suspicious link on your phone covers the next checks calmly and step by step.

How to report a scam text on iPhone

Apple’s Messages app can help in a few different ways, depending on the type of message and your iPhone version.

1. For a suspicious iMessage or message marked as spam, look for Report Spam or Delete and Report Spam in Messages.
2. To block the sender, open the conversation, tap the sender details, and use the block option.
3. If it was a normal SMS text and you want to report it to your mobile provider, tap and hold the message, tap More, use the forward arrow, and send it to 7726.

Apple also says reporting spam does not automatically stop future messages from the same sender, so blocking still matters.

How to turn on extra filtering on iPhone

Apple’s current iPhone guidance says you can filter unknown senders and, on newer versions, use text-message filtering for transactions and promotions too.

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap the Filter button at the top of the conversation list.
3. Tap Manage Filtering.
4. Turn on Screen Unknown Senders.

The wording may vary slightly depending on your iPhone version, but the goal is the same: fewer distracting messages landing in your main conversation list.

How to report a scam text on Android

If you use Google Messages, Google says you can block and report spam directly from the conversation.

1. Open Google Messages.
2. Touch and hold the conversation you want to report.
3. Tap Block or Block & report spam.
4. Select Report spam if shown, then confirm.

Google notes that sending a spam report can share the sender’s number and the most recent message with your mobile carrier. You can also block a number without sending a report if you prefer, but reporting helps improve spam protection.

How to forward a suspicious SMS text to 7726

The National Cyber Security Centre says most UK mobile providers are part of the free 7726 scheme. If you forward a suspicious text there, your provider can investigate and may block or ban the sender if it is malicious.

7726 spells SPAM on a phone keypad, which makes it easier to remember.

1. On iPhone or iPad: note the sender’s number, press and hold the message, tap More, select the message, tap the forward arrow, enter 7726, and send.
2. On Android: note the sender’s number, open the conversation, press and hold the message, tap Forward if available, enter 7726, and send.

After that, your network may reply asking for the sender’s number, so keep it handy until the reporting process is complete.

What if the message came through WhatsApp or another app?

If the message arrived through WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Facebook Messenger, or another app, do not forward it to 7726 as if it were a normal SMS unless it really was an SMS text underneath. Instead:

1. Use that app’s built-in block and report tools.
2. Do not click any link in the message.
3. Delete the chat after reporting if you no longer need it.

Ofcom says app-based messages should be handled using the safety features inside the relevant app.

When you should be extra cautious

Be especially wary if the message:

• mentions a missed parcel, unpaid charge, or refund
• claims to be from your bank, HMRC, or a delivery company
• asks you to share a one-time code
• tries to rush you with words like urgent, final warning, or immediate action required
• contains a shortened or odd-looking web address

If the message is pretending to be a delivery company, our guide on how to check if a parcel delivery text is real before you pay is a useful follow-up. If it asks for a code that just arrived on your phone, read what to do if someone asks for the one-time passcode just sent to your phone.

What to do if you already replied or tapped the link

Act promptly, but stay calm.

1. Stop using the message straight away.
2. If you entered a password, change it from the official website or app you opened yourself.
3. If you entered banking or card details, contact your bank using a trusted number or its official app.
4. Report the text to 7726 if it was SMS, and use the in-app report feature too where relevant.

The NCSC says that if you have shared personal or financial information after responding to a suspicious message, you should take action quickly, including contacting your bank where appropriate.

Simple habits that reduce repeat scam texts

• Block suspicious senders instead of just deleting the message.
• Use message filtering on iPhone or spam protection on Android.
• Do not publish your mobile number more widely than necessary.
• Pause whenever a message creates pressure.
• Check through the real website or app you already trust, not the link in the text.

When patient support helps

Scam texts are unsettling because they are designed to catch you in a hurry. Many independent clients and families do not need complicated security software. They need someone calm to explain what the message is, show them how to block it properly, and check whether anything else needs to be done.

Simply Tech Support helps with suspicious messages, phones and tablets, email worries, online banking confidence, and practical one-to-one support at home. You can read more on the Simply Tech Support personal tech support page.

Sources

• Apple Support: Report spam and block senders in Messages on iPhone
• Apple Support: Screen and filter text messages on iPhone
• Google Messages Help: Report spam in Google Messages
• Google Messages Help: How Google protects your privacy with spam detection
• National Cyber Security Centre: Report a text message you think is a scam
• Ofcom: What to do about a scam call, text or message