How to Report Spam Texts: 7726, FTC & FCC Steps

Spam and scam texts are more than an annoyance. They are the delivery mechanism for phishing, fake package notices, bogus toll bills, and fraud schemes that cost consumers real money. The good news is that the US has an official, functioning reporting infrastructure for junk texts, and using it takes about a minute.

To report a spam text in the United States, forward the message to the shortcode 7726 (which spells SPAM), report the fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and file a complaint with the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. Those three channels feed carrier filtering systems and federal enforcement, and each one works slightly differently. This guide walks through all of them, step by step, plus how to report and block junk directly on iPhone and Android.

Why Reporting Spam Texts Actually Matters

It is easy to assume reporting is a black hole. It is not.

• 7726 reports train carrier filters. When you forward a message to 7726, your wireless carrier's spam analysis systems use it to identify the sending numbers, message patterns, and links involved, which helps block the same campaign for millions of other subscribers. The 7726 shortcode is an industry-wide mechanism supported across major US carriers and referenced in the CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices, the framework that governs commercial messaging in the US.
• FTC reports feed law enforcement. Reports filed at ReportFraud.ftc.gov go into the FTC's Consumer Sentinel Network, a database used by federal, state, and local law enforcement to spot patterns and build cases.
• FCC complaints support rulemaking and enforcement. The FCC enforces the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA, 47 U.S.C. 227) and its implementing rules at 47 CFR 64.1200, which restrict autodialed and unsolicited texts. Consumer complaints filed at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov help the agency identify violators and shape its robotext rules.

One report will not take down a fraud ring. Millions of reports, aggregated, genuinely do disrupt campaigns.

Step 1: Forward the Text to 7726 (SPAM)

This is the fastest, most universal step, and it is free on major US carriers. Forwarding to 7726 does not usually incur a messaging charge.

On iPhone

1. Open the Messages app and open the spam conversation. Do not tap any links inside it.
2. Touch and hold the message bubble, then tap More.
3. Tap the forward arrow in the bottom-right corner.
4. In the To field, enter 7726 and tap send.
5. Your carrier will typically reply asking for the phone number the spam came from. Copy the sender's number from the original conversation and reply with it.

On Android

1. Open the spam message in Google Messages or your default messaging app. Do not tap any links.
2. Touch and hold the message, then tap the three-dot menu and choose Forward (menu names vary slightly by device).
3. Enter 7726 as the recipient and send.
4. When the carrier replies asking for the sender's number, reply with the number the spam came from.

That is it. The carrier's spam team takes it from there.

Step 2: Report the Fraud to the FTC

If the text was a scam attempt (fake delivery notice, phony bank alert, prize claim, unpaid toll, crypto pitch, job offer, "wrong number" conversation starter), report it to the Federal Trade Commission.

1. Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov in any browser.
2. Click to start a report and choose the category that best matches the scam.
3. Describe what happened: the sender's number, what the message said, any link it contained (type it out, do not click it), and whether you lost money.
4. Provide as much detail as you can, then submit. You do not need a lawyer, and there is no fee.

If the spam relates to unwanted telemarketing generally, you can also verify your number is on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. Under the TCPA and FTC rules, many commercial texts require your prior express consent, so junk from companies you never opted into is worth reporting.

Step 3: File a Complaint with the FCC

The Federal Communications Commission handles complaints about unwanted calls and texts specifically.

1. Go to consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.
2. Select the Phone category, then choose the issue type for unwanted calls or texts.
3. Fill in the form: your information, the sender's number, the date, and a description of the message.
4. Submit. The FCC uses complaint data in its enforcement work and its ongoing proceedings on robotexts.

Filing with both the FTC and FCC is not redundant. The agencies have different jurisdictions and both datasets matter.

Step 4: Report Junk In-App and Block the Sender

Reporting upstream is for the ecosystem. Blocking is for your own peace.

iPhone: Report Junk and Block

1. For messages from unknown senders, iMessage and Messages often display a Report Junk link beneath the message. Tapping it and confirming deletes the message and reports it to Apple, and depending on your carrier and settings, to your carrier as well.
2. To block the sender manually: open the conversation, tap the sender's name or number at the top, tap Info, then choose Block Caller.
3. To reduce future noise: go to Settings, then Apps, then Messages (or Settings then Messages on older iOS versions) and turn on Filter Unknown Senders, which moves texts from people not in your contacts into a separate list.

Android: Report Spam and Block

1. In Google Messages, touch and hold the conversation in your inbox list.
2. Tap the Block icon or the three-dot menu and choose Block.
3. Check the box for Report spam when prompted, then confirm. This reports the sender to Google and blocks future messages.
4. Google Messages also has built-in spam protection: tap your profile picture, then Messages settings, then Spam protection, and make sure it is enabled.

Carrier Tools Worth Enabling

Each major US carrier offers free spam-blocking tools for their subscribers, such as scam-filtering apps and network-level blocking services. Check your carrier's website or app store listing for its current free offering and enable it. Carriers also let you report smishing through their own support channels in addition to 7726.

Special Case: Package, Bank, and Government Impersonation Texts

Impersonation scams deserve their own reporting paths because dedicated agencies track them:

A precision note: legitimate organizations do text their customers, so the presence of a text alone proves nothing either way. The tell is unsolicited messages with links demanding urgent action. USPS, for example, does not send unsolicited texts containing links about packages. When in doubt, never use the link or number in the message; go to the organization's official website directly. For a deeper look at how these lures work, see our guide to smishing and SMS phishing.

What Not to Do With a Spam Text

1. Do not click links, even to "see what it is." Links can lead to credential phishing or malware.
2. Do not reply STOP to obvious scams. STOP is the right tool for legitimate senders you opted into, and reputable organizations honor it immediately, as covered in our unsubscribe message examples guide. But replying to a criminal operation just confirms your number is active. Report and block instead.
3. Do not call the number back or use any callback number in the message.
4. Do not share personal information, verification codes, or payment details by text with an unknown sender, ever.
5. Do not delete the message before reporting it if you plan to file with the FTC or FCC; the content is your evidence.

How Legitimate Senders Stay Out of the Spam Pile

If you are reading this as an organization that sends texts, the reporting infrastructure above is exactly why consent-based, well-identified messaging matters. Messages that recipients recognize, expect, and can easily opt out of do not get forwarded to 7726. Messages from unregistered numbers with no identification and no opt-out language do. Under the TCPA and the CTIA guidelines, proper consent, clear sender identification, and honored opt-outs are the baseline, and they are also the practical difference between reaching your audience and training carrier filters against yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 7726 and does it cost anything to use?

7726 is the industry-standard shortcode for reporting spam texts in the US; the digits spell SPAM on a phone keypad. Forwarding a message to 7726 is generally free on major US carriers and does not count against your messaging plan. After you forward the message, the carrier replies asking for the sender's number so its spam team can analyze the campaign.

Does reporting a spam text to 7726 stop the sender from texting me?

Not by itself. 7726 feeds carrier spam-filtering systems, which helps block the campaign network-wide, but it does not block that sender on your device. To stop messages immediately, block the sender in your messaging app and enable your phone's spam filtering, then report through 7726, the FTC, and the FCC so the broader campaign gets disrupted.

Should I report a spam text to the FTC or the FCC?

Both, ideally. The FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov) focuses on fraud and deceptive practices and feeds the Consumer Sentinel database used by law enforcement. The FCC (consumercomplaints.fcc.gov) enforces the TCPA rules on unwanted calls and texts. The reports serve different enforcement functions, and each takes only a few minutes.

Is it ever safe to reply STOP to a text?

Yes, when the message is from a legitimate organization you recognize and previously opted into, such as your pharmacy, school, or a nonprofit you support. Legitimate senders are expected to honor STOP requests. For unknown or clearly fraudulent senders, do not reply at all; report to 7726 and block the number instead.

What if I already clicked a link or gave information to a scam text?

Act quickly. If you entered financial details, contact your bank or card issuer immediately using the number on your card. Change any passwords you exposed, and enable two-factor authentication. Report the incident at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, if you lost money, file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.

Send Texts People Never Want to Report

FRANSiS helps nonprofits, healthcare organizations, schools, and government agencies run consent-based SMS programs with clear identification, instant opt-out handling, and an AI Powered Helper that manages two-way conversations the right way. If you want your messages welcomed instead of forwarded to 7726, contact the FRANSiS team to see how it works.