How to forward a spam text to 7726

How to forward a text message to 7726 on iPhone

If the message looks like spam or a scam, forward the text itself first. Your carrier may reply and ask for the sender number after the first report.

1. Do not tap links, call numbers, or reply to the suspicious text.
2. Touch and hold the message bubble you want to report.
3. Choose More or Forward, depending on the iOS version you use.
4. Send the forwarded message to 7726.
5. If your carrier asks for the sender, send the phone number, short code, or sender label from the original text.

What happens after you send a text to 7726?

Your carrier can use the report to look for related spam patterns. The carrier may reply and ask for the phone number or sender that sent the original message. This helps connect the message content to the sender used in that campaign.

Reporting does not always stop the next message on your phone. It is a signal to the carrier. For your own inbox, combine reporting with blocking and filtering.

When to use 7726

• Fake delivery or package texts.
• Fake toll payment or final notice texts.
• Bank, payment app, or account security impersonation texts.
• Prize, gift card, refund, or suspicious job texts.
• Unknown senders pushing links, payments, or personal information.

What information should you send?

Start by forwarding the suspicious message itself. If your carrier replies asking for the sender, send the phone number, short code, or sender label shown on the original message. Do not add your own personal information to the report.

When 7726 is not the whole answer

Forwarding to 7726 is a reporting step, not a personal inbox rule. It may help carriers identify broader abuse, but it does not create a custom filter on your phone and it does not guarantee the next similar message will be blocked before you see it.

• Use blocking when one number keeps texting you.
• Use filtering when the same wording keeps coming from new numbers.
• Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov when the message tried to steal money or information.
• Use a trusted opt-out only when the sender is legitimate.

What else to do after forwarding spam

1. Use Report Junk or Report Spam in Messages if it appears.
2. Report fraud attempts at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
3. Block the sender if the same number keeps texting you.
4. Create FingerWag rules for repeated phrases or scam categories.

Suggested FingerWag rules after reporting

Reporting helps the carrier. Filtering helps your inbox. If a spam campaign keeps using new numbers, create rules for the words that keep returning.

• pay now
• unpaid balance
• confirm address
• suspicious purchase
• account locked
• final notice

How to avoid over-filtering after a report

Do not create rules from broad words like "account," "delivery," or "payment" by themselves. Use the scam phrase as it appeared in the message, then narrow it if a legitimate alert is filtered. Check the Junk or filtered view after adding a new rule.

Filter repeat spam after reporting

Reporting helps carriers review abuse. FingerWag helps your iPhone filter the next similar message when the wording keeps coming back.

7726 questions

Sources

• FTC: how to recognize and report spam text messages

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