Can Random, Unwelcome Text Messages be BLOCKED?! - X Style (Pure) Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Just got my phone. And for the first time, since having a cell phone, I am getting random, unsolicited messages, one day after i got my SIM card/service, and I have yet to even give out my number to one person!
How did these SOBs get my number? Is the store i got the SIM from selling or giving out customer numbers to Spammers?
Can these unwanted txt msgs be BLOCKED?
I believe my old phone had the ability to block calls (not sure about txt msgs).
Please HELP!
Anyone?

After years of being on CM based ROMs I had forgotten how limiting the stock dialers and messaging apps are until getting this phone. I'm used to just being able to long press a caller, add to blacklist, done. I'm really surprised features like that haven't made their way into the mainstay AOSP dialer and messaging apps yet; I guess Hangouts and Google Dialer get all the bells and whistles.
Hangouts can be used to manage SMS and can block SMS from senders if you want to go that route. I've used Textra and GoSMS in the past and I think they both could blacklist numbers too, but it has been a long time. There are some other dedicated blocking apps in the play store too. Unfortunately I just don't think our stock messaging app has any way to blacklist senders without some assistance.
Also, just in case it is important to you keep in mind blacklisting is not blocking. Blacklisting will keep the spammer from bothering you, but you might still incur charges if you don't have unlimited SMS. Your carrier might be able to help if this is an issue.

it sounds like you have gotten someone elses number that used to be signed up for tons of text spam... you should call the carrier and ask for a different number

If you don't have it already, download Google Messenger. You can long press a contact thread and click the block button. In the dialer, if you press a phone call and then click details you can block the number. Very easy and efficient if you ask me.

jason2678 said:
Also, just in case it is important to you keep in mind blacklisting is not blocking. Blacklisting will keep the spammer from bothering you, but you might still incur charges if you don't have unlimited SMS. Your carrier might be able to help if this is an issue.
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thanks for the FYI. and also for pointing out the difference between blocking and blacklisting and how you might still incur texting charges.
asuhoops8628 said:
it sounds like you have gotten someone elses number that used to be signed up for tons of text spam... you should call the carrier and ask for a different number
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good idea, thanks for the suggestion.
chris23445 said:
If you don't have it already, download Google Messenger. You can long press a contact thread and click the block button. In the dialer, if you press a phone call and then click details you can block the number. Very easy and efficient if you ask me.
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i think this was the simplest solution. i made Google Messenger my default messaging app and was then easily able to blacklist the sender.
thanks for all the feedback, guys!

Some of the spam you can either reply "STOP" or "Unsubscribe", and it MIGHT stop. I would just blacklist it as well.

install Textra And Blacklist Sender

Maagikarp said:
Some of the spam you can either reply "STOP" or "Unsubscribe", and it MIGHT stop. I would just blacklist it as well.
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sometimes i worry that this option would alert or inform would-be Spammers that this is a good/valid target (live target/good potential spam recipient) to continue bombarding with Spam.
i tend not to believe that an lowly Spammer would honor a request to stop sending spam...
kinda like the Spam is the bait, and if you reply, you're caught!

Aftab_khatri said:
install Textra And Blacklist Sender
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i shall check these out... thanks!
are they in the play store?

Unsubscribing from e-mails generally flags you up as a valid e-mail address which is then sold on to others.
Same with phone numbers.

Related

How to Block A Number and Text?

How can I block a phone number and text messages? I tried Sprints website and sad to say it doesnt look like it is working.
Any other ideas?
hmm. It worked for me when I had to do that once (from the sprint website)
Did you include the area code with the number? (and leave off the beginning 1?)
I am sure there is a messaging app or something that can do that, but you would most likely still incur usage on you bill (but you probably have unlimited msg... )
Where can I find it on the website again?
if you truley want to block someone just call sprintit takes five mins to do and trust me it def works...lol
Oh awesome, thanks Unsane. I'll do that.
CallFilter in the market will block calls for free and calls and tetxs in the pro version
also if you send a text to 9999 "block 10digit #" that will block texts
I know cyanogen mod has a option to blacklist numbers. Calls will go straight to voicemail. You could try going to your people app and selecting the number you want it to go straight to voicemail (asuming you have the number saved in your contacts) selecting the contact and at the botton youll see the option to send the number straight to voicemail. Not sure if this works for texts.
Sms guard is free in the market
Great app, puts all incoming texts into a folder within the sms guard app, never rings or pops up at all. Set it and forget it
u know sprint cant block people from calling u. U have to use an app or use the blacklist in the people that most of the roms have even the stock
big thanks for the "straight to voicemail" tip, WOW, love this.
asj2583 said:
I know cyanogen mod has a option to blacklist numbers. Calls will go straight to voicemail. You could try going to your people app and selecting the number you want it to go straight to voicemail
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That's an option in the stock roms as well. Just a feature Cyanogen carried over.
hellcatt said:
CallFilter in the market will block calls for free and calls and tetxs in the pro version
also if you send a text to 9999 "block 10digit #" that will block texts
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stevako said:
Great app, puts all incoming texts into a folder within the sms guard app, never rings or pops up at all. Set it and forget it
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Click to collapse
yea but why bother with an app that takes space then uses a folder that takes space that you wont ever even use?
Vote for callfilter from me. Having unlimited minutes I have it set to pick up/hang up and I never know the person even called unless I go into my call logs which I rarely do.

Easy way to get rid of Voicemail Texts

Send a text message to 9999. For the message, type "block" (no quotes) space, then the four digit number you recieve. (9016, etc.)
This also works for blocking people from texting you. Just put their TEN digit number where you put the original 4 numbers.
Dj21o said:
Send a text message to 9999. For the message, type "block" (no quotes) space, then the four digit number you recieve. (9016, etc.)
This also works for blocking people from texting you. Just put their TEN digit number where you put the original 4 numbers.
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This is also cripple Sprint VVM if you use it.
I personally think vvm is ridiculous. I turn off my data, and then I get killed with the annoying text messages that says i have one. I just thought I would share, because it is rather annoying to me lol.
Dj21o said:
Send a text message to 9999. For the message, type "block" (no quotes) space, then the four digit number you recieve. (9016, etc.)
This also works for blocking people from texting you. Just put their TEN digit number where you put the original 4 numbers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LancerEVA06 said:
This is also cripple Sprint VVM if you use it.
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Yeah, I don't think it will work after this...
Abc10chars
theimpaler747 said:
Yeah, I don't think it will work after this...
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uh-oh... I just did this to get rid of the texts from sprint vvm. I'll see if it still works now
Download SPC (Super-Private Conversation) or RedList from the Market, black/redlist SMS messages from 9016, end thread (and move it too ).
Isn't there a blacklisting feature of phone numbers in CyanognMOD? And could this be used to block 9016, etc... and still have working Sprint VVM?
Well I use youmail Sprint VVM to plain after using youmail I like the idea of giving certain people they're own greeting. BTW thanx used this today blocked an annoying pest and they're msgs
No you can't use anything in cyanogen mod, that I know of. This was the easiest way for me to do it. And my vvm still works too btw.
I know I had to block an ex skank that tried to ruin my relationship, so I typed the annoying ass text messages and what do you know!
Thats good I'm glad I helped.
FdxRider said:
Well I use youmail
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I've been using youmail since day 1.
I LOVE the block feature: play custom announcement and disallow message recording
vzw slave

[Q] Is it possible to reject SMS?

Is it possible to physically reject specific SMS sender? I mean make so that sender and network think that message is unable to be delivered?
I do not have SMS plan and hate to pay for spam, but need to send and receive occasionally.
CNemo7539 said:
Is it possible to physically reject specific SMS sender? I mean make so that sender and network think that message is unable to be delivered?
I do not have SMS plan and hate to pay for spam, but need to send and receive occasionally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know through Verizon's website you can block all texts and/or premium texts. Premium being the ones you can request via 5 digit numbers, i.e. ones that generally cost you money.
Beyond that I don't know if there is a way to block a specific sender. I thought I read something about an app that helps you block calls/texts from users, but I don't remember where or what app.
I'm betting my far wiser friend Google may remember.
CNemo7539 said:
Is it possible to physically reject specific SMS sender? I mean make so that sender and network think that message is unable to be delivered?
I do not have SMS plan and hate to pay for spam, but need to send and receive occasionally.
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Click to collapse
Dunno about you, but I have never once in my life gotten an SMS spam message on my personal cell phones. The only "spam" I get is the free messages from Verizon, which doesn't count. If you're getting SMS messages from other sources, you must have signed up for something at some point that got your cell number on a list. I don't trust any type of text messaging service, and never enter my number on any site that asks me to enter my number and carrier (including those stupid fake IQ tests that require a cell number to text you your score).
If the messages are from a legitimate source, they should have an unsubscribe method listed that you can use. Beyond that, I know Verizon can cut off all text messaging, but I'm not sure if they have the ability to block certain senders or not. That would be a question to ask a customer service rep, I guess.
You can set the option to reject messages from a specific sender via My Verizon online. I think you can set something like 5-10 numbers to reject messages from. It will do what you're asking and prevent them from getting through.
Chomp SMS lets you blacklist certain contacts. I haven't tried it out myself, but I have seen the option.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
if it is like a fake IQ site just text the word stop to whatever the number is and if its a friend get handcent to block them
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
VZ service is ridiculous in this department! 5 numbers up to 90 days? You gotta be kidding me.
Sometimes I feel it like some sort of conspiracy here.
SF is my first smartphone and I never had message spam on the old one. Just a few days after getting new phone I started to get messages from who knows what numbers. And these numbers are not regular customer numbers.
What a beautiful business model - first sell my number and then ask me pay to stop spam to my number! Cool!
I guess my question is if I have some sort of software spam filter am i still getting messages physically or soft simply may reject them at very low level at handshake moment or something like this. Pretty much pretend to have constant reception error or something like this.

Help make an app. supply code? help anyway you can! please!

I am trying to make my first app. I want it to have no icon in the apps tray and be hidden, with a name like Android system.
I want it to block sms from a specific number, and possibly forward it to another number, without the origional recipitent seeing it period. I want it to block incoming calls from the same specific number and not notify the origal recipitent of call blocked. I want it to block outgoing sms to that same specific number without notifying the sender. And/or send that message intended for the origional number to a secoundary number. And same with calls, i would like calls to that specific number to be blocked and not notify the caller that their call is not going to the specific number.
Do you get what im going for here? I want an app made specifically to install on one specific persons android, to block all contact between that phone, and one specific other persons number, without notifying either party their communication of choice is not reaching the other person. With the possibility of the transactions actually going to a 3rd number soley to be used as a "monitor" if you will.
Can anyone help me code this, itll be my first app, ive never done such. Or if its easy for a senior coder, could you throw the app together for me?
Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated. Honestly. I would like to learn to do this myself in the future, so just help with setting up proper code is good enough!
robles4242 said:
I am trying to make my first app. I want it to have no icon in the apps tray and be hidden, with a name like Android system.
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Click to collapse
Hi first off all, if you want hide the application in the apps tray, your phone need to be rooted
robles4242 said:
I am trying to make my first app. I want it to have no icon in the apps tray and be hidden, with a name like Android system.
I want it to block sms from a specific number, and possibly forward it to another number, without the origional recipitent seeing it period. I want it to block incoming calls from the same specific number and not notify the origal recipitent of call blocked. I want it to block outgoing sms to that same specific number without notifying the sender. And/or send that message intended for the origional number to a secoundary number. And same with calls, i would like calls to that specific number to be blocked and not notify the caller that their call is not going to the specific number.
Do you get what im going for here? I want an app made specifically to install on one specific persons android, to block all contact between that phone, and one specific other persons number, without notifying either party their communication of choice is not reaching the other person. With the possibility of the transactions actually going to a 3rd number soley to be used as a "monitor" if you will.
Can anyone help me code this, itll be my first app, ive never done such. Or if its easy for a senior coder, could you throw the app together for me?
Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated. Honestly. I would like to learn to do this myself in the future, so just help with setting up proper code is good enough!
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This whole thing smells very "it puts the lotion in the basket"
relationship counseling maybe?
Cause what I read is. I don't want my significant other talking to person X so i wanna control it.
Creepy..... Very creepy
This requires a rooted device and it's pretty much illegal as far as im aware. For educational purpose:
A service(Services are not shown to the user directly) will be your sms listener and an activity will perform the sms actions.
You can possibly copy, resend and delete incoming messages in the activity. You pretty much wanna stay away from other people inboxes :}

blocking nuisance calls?

I'm baffled how to block calls and numbers on the Moto x pure/style can anyone help me please ?
With some apposite app in the Play store maybe?
Edvin73 said:
With some apposite app in the Play store maybe?
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Is this a Joke? They don't have any Call Blocking apps
https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Apposite&hl=en
kendive said:
Is this a Joke? They don't have any Call Blocking apps
https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Apposite&hl=en
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Oh [emoji90] . Dirty insult generator will do anyway.
BackDaws said:
I'm baffled how to block calls and numbers on the Moto x pure/style can anyone help me please ?
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I'm quite possibly wrong about this but I believe that if you update to the most recent version of the "Phone" app there is now a setting which allows you to select a phone number which has called your phone and then choose to block the number in the future.
BackDaws said:
I'm baffled how to block calls and numbers on the Moto x pure/style can anyone help me please ?
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From what I saw on my Nexus 5X now running 7.0 (which I bought this summer after frustrations with my MotoX and lack of regular security and feature pack updates), it does appear the native phone dialer app in Nougat has the ability to flag calls to be blocked and/or "reported as spam" back to Google... With the MotoX on 6.0 today, however, unless you use Google Voice/Hangouts (and Google delivering the incoming call instead), I don't see how Google can block calls before they ring on your device today. That being said, Google is hopefully working on a solution (speculation on my part) to have the native phone app do a "spam check" when it receives and incoming call (even from a carrier) on the device before it treats the calls as legit and notifies you (rings)... In theory, if millions of Android users start reporting spam phone numbers, Google should have a decent database to check against. This is the concept behind apps like Truecaller in the PlaySTore, but BE CAREFUL with those: they require your consent to copy ALL your contacts into their cloud and add them as "safe" (real) callers for everyone!
The real problem with spam calls in the US today is the open nature of the SIP transport protocol implementations all carriers are now using in their networks... Caller Line ID info is spoofed on the fly (by the call originator) to appear to be coming from a legit area and exchange you make calls in/from. THIS is extremely difficult to defend against on a device by only being able to look at CLID to make a decision on allow/deny of call. If carriers spent more effort screening the calls being put on their network (i.e. ensuring the CLID is legit for the originating source IP), they could get a better handle on the current spam crisis IMHO...
Never needed to use an app before, so you can't do it with the phone itself?
BackDaws said:
Never needed to use an app before, so you can't do it with the phone itself?
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Sorry, just noticed you aren't in the US... Not sure if the UK has the same spoofed CLID problem that we currently do over here... As the other poster also said, newer versions of the natuve phone app offer some protection against the same number ringing through a 2nd time (once you block it)... However, as long as the "bad guys" can keep changing the # they appear to be calling from EVERY time they call you, there really isn't any point in screening incoming calls based solely on the originating number...
My wife has hundreds of "blocked" callers listed in her iPhone yet she still gets (new) spam callers every day... Is anyone really shocked that scummy telemarketers have resorted to "SIP-hacking" to stay ahead of efforts to block their "real" number?
ech1253 said:
Sorry, just noticed you aren't in the US... Not sure if the UK has the same spoofed CLID problem that we currently do over here... As the other poster also said, newer versions of the natuve phone app offer some protection against the same number ringing through a 2nd time (once you block it)... However, as long as the "bad guys" can keep changing the # they appear to be calling from EVERY time they call you, there really isn't any point in screening incoming calls based solely on the originating number...
My wife has hundreds of "blocked" callers listed in her iPhone yet she still gets (new) spam callers every day... Is anyone really shocked that scummy telemarketers have resorted to "SIP-hacking" to stay ahead of efforts to block their "real" number?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the moment it's the same 2 numbers that I have to ignore , with my other phone you could turn the phone over to shut it up so wasn't a problem or add the number as a contact and block it but I can't do either with this phone
BackDaws said:
At the moment it's the same 2 numbers that I have to ignore , with my other phone you could turn the phone over to shut it up so wasn't a problem or add the number as a contact and block it but I can't do either with this phone
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Click to collapse
As long as the feature isn't removed by Lenovorola in the Nougat version the MotoX is announced to receive, you should very easily be able to do it right in the newer phone app I saw in 7.0...

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