In the past few days I have experienced a new version of spam. It all started Dec 8th with a text message from Edwardo pushing some crappy penny stock which I won’t mention here. Since then I receive at least one text message a day with offers to purchase V!@gr@, get a cheaper M0rtg@g3, or increase my P3N!5 size. I guess the millions of emails sent by spammers daily is not enough.
The good news is if you are a Verizon subscriber there is a way to help minimize or at least temporarily eliminate text message spam. There is a feature with Verizon that allows you to receive any emails sent to yournumber@vtext.com. I guess spammers now know this as well because it seems like they blast all the numbers at vtext.com. The solution verizon has is to allow you to choose a nickname for your account. If you will never receive an email on your phone you can pick a ridiculous nick name and hopefully nobody will ever find it. I chose something alone the lines of IHateSpam0983!2809389@vtext.com.
This feature is somewhat buried in their site and took me a little while to find.
- Browse to http://text.vzw.com and login.
- Click on preferences in the left nav.
- Click Nickname on the now expanded preferences section of the left nav.
- Click the ‘Edit Nickname’ on the lower right hand corner
- Enter your nickname and click save.
Since doing this I have received 0 spam messages. Hopefully this works for anyone else out there who hates spam as much as I do.
[Update 11/25/08]
As far as I know there is no way to block a specific number from texting you. You may need to call Verizon support and have them do this for you.
Why I am right! 
I tried this, but I still can’t send any message to my cell phone.
The messages just started bouncing yesterday with Verizon’s aggressive spam filter.
Comment by Steven — December 17, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
I just sent an email to my updated account nickname@vtext.com and it went through just fine.
Subject: Test Message
Body: This message is a test
If you send that exact same message does it come through on your phone? Can you receive text messages?
Comment by Shaun — December 18, 2007 @ 1:02 am
Verizon also allows Text Blocking under Preferences > Text Blocking
Below are the options they give you:
Keep unwanted messages from being sent to your handset from specific e-mail addresses, domain names and websites.
Message Blocking Preferences:
Block all messages sent from e-mail? Yes No
Block all messages sent from the web? Yes No
Allow messages sent to my Nickname@vtext.com only. Yes No
Block up to 15 messages from individual e-mail addresses, web sites, domain names, or Wireless Nickname’s by entering the address:
(Example: Richard@anywhere.com, domain.com, or sam@vtext.com)
Comment by Keith — January 5, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
Man, glad I found this page. I just got my first text message spam today. It completely sucks that I have to pay $.10 each time I get spammed ($.20 when their rate changes at Verizon). Good advice and tips
Comment by lukep — February 4, 2008 @ 12:08 am
I’ve Verizon cell service, and I don’t see the text block option on my phone (Preference -> Text Blocking). Where is it, or how can I get that option?
Comment by wr — February 11, 2008 @ 8:39 am
The option to block is not on your phone it is on the verizon website. As far as I know you have to access it through a browser on your computer.
Comment by Shaun — February 11, 2008 @ 11:19 am
The trick is to change your nickname to something like:
ed1f27a3df077be057bbdd9ed9b693e9@vtext.com, then disable all mail to your normal phone email address, then setup forwarding from your normal (spam-proof) email provider to your new email address.
I use md5sum to generate the above “nickname”, but you can just guess one up.
So far, it’s been a couple of years and I’ve received 0 phone spam.
Terry
Comment by Terry Carmen — March 4, 2008 @ 6:45 am
The nickname approach worked for me, too. I haven’t gotten a spam text since I created it.
I also have started using a Beta service offered by
http://www.spamfreetext.com
so clients can get in touch with me in emergencies without knowing my cell number. Basically, spamfreetext creates a mail form for you that you can link to from your site, and filter the spam before the message is sent. It seems to work pretty well, and it’s free (ad supported, but just Google ads, no pop-ups) and painless to sign up.
Comment by Brooklyn Geek — March 31, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Thank you for posting this. This makes my cell phone life much easier.
Comment by thankful — August 9, 2008 @ 5:41 am
Thanks for all the info! I’ve only gotten a few of the same junk stock texts but it’s always at some ridiculous hour of the morning!
Good to know I can sleep soundly now.
Comment by bean — September 4, 2008 @ 2:23 am
how can i just block a specific number (a friend of mine is annoying me and i hate them now)???????
can i block just the number???
Comment by Jonathan D. — November 25, 2008 @ 10:56 pm
I’ve also recently had similar text… not only are they annoying but if you have a limited text plan you they can run your bill. I’ve gone to websites like smswatchdog.com or http://www.whotextsme.com for advice and also to see what others did that experienced the same thing or that got spammed by the same company.
Comment by john — June 29, 2010 @ 12:14 am
Veruzon itself is the spammer!
Comment by SpamISaSCAM — October 29, 2010 @ 3:31 am
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t
already š Cheers!
Comment by Westchester NY outcall — July 24, 2013 @ 4:11 am