How to Avoid Spam Texts and Protect Personal Information in the Digital Age

With Spam Texts on the Rise Consumers Must do their Due Diligence


By Reinhard Seidel, Director Products at Clickatell


How to Avoid Spam Texts and Protect Personal Information in the Digital Age


There have been many advantages to the accelerated digital revolution we are experiencing, but a negative impact is the increased risk for cyber threats. In 2020, spam and phishing text messages were up 146% in the US, subjecting consumers to dangerous cybercriminals attempting to steal valuable personal information. While the FCC says they plan to crack down on these messages, it’s still more important than ever that consumers are aware of the tell-tale signs of spam texts and phishing messages, and how message content, encryption security and identity are handled by SMS providers and business chat technology vendors to protect themselves and their information.


Know your customer


As spam and phishing messages are on the rise messaging service providers need to ensure more than ever that its business customers are complying to rules and regulations. This includes communicating compliance rules to brands, ensuring the legitimacy of businesses, understanding the use cases and go through proper approval processes for new service offerings.


These compliance efforts have been underway for several years now in the US when it comes to Short Code services (5-or 6-digit numbers that are used for sending messages). This year mobile operators have launched additional compliance requirements for message traffic that is sent on long numbers (standard 10-digit phone numbers). Those type of message traffic has been flowing largely unregulated in the US for the last 10 years and has been subjected to spamming and phishing attacks by bad actors. Not anymore, as ..

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