Guides

Plain-English help with scam texts on iPhone: spotting them, filtering them, and what to do if you clicked.

• How to filter texts from unknown senders on iPhone

  Turn on Screen Unknown Senders and the Spam filter in iOS 26, find filtered texts, and add a text message filter app. Step by step.

• How to stop political and campaign texts on iPhone

  Political texts aren't covered by the Do Not Call list. How to cut them down on iPhone: reply STOP, screen unknown senders, report, block, and filter.

• How to block spam texts on iPhone

  Block a number that sends you spam texts, manage your blocked list, and what blocking can't do. Step by step for iOS 26 and later.

• How to report spam texts on iPhone

  Three ways to report a scam text on iPhone: Report Spam in Messages, forwarding to 7726, and ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Step by step.

• How to tell if an unpaid toll text is real

  Real toll agencies text only customers who signed up, with links only to their own sites. How to check an unpaid toll text safely.

• How to tell if a USPS text is real

  USPS only texts you if you asked for tracking updates, and those texts don't have links. How to spot a fake USPS text and check a package safely.

• What happens if you reply to a scam text (and should you reply STOP?)

  A reply tells scammers your number works, and replying Y can switch on a blocked link. What a reply does, whether to reply STOP, and what to do now.

• Clicked a link in a scam text? Do this now

  Tapped a link in a scam text? What to do depends on what you entered. Step-by-step help for passwords, cards, payments, and codes.

• Gave a scammer a verification code? Do this now

  Shared a one-time code by text or over the phone? Secure the account in the next few minutes. Steps for passwords, banks, Apple, Google Voice, and SIM swaps.