Text messages that arrive on your mobile phone as spam messages are at best annoying and at worst a risk to your personal security. But somewhere in between there is a unique type of spam text message that contains advertisements aimed at convincing you about who you should vote for in the next election.
Sure, this is annoying, but is it something more? Something more dangerous that you should be aware of?
If you’re receiving unwanted political text messages from fundraisers, here’s what you need to know about them and how to get your phone back and block them forever. In the next election, you should be able to vote freely without being influenced by text messages from people you don’t know. How on earth did they get your phone number?
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Man using mobile phone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
What is political texting?
Political text messages are communications sent via SMS by political campaigns, party committees, political action committees (PACs), and interest groups. The purpose of these messages is to solicit support, funds, or votes, gauge public opinion through surveys, or provide information about political events or initiatives.
Their high open rates and direct reach have made them a popular tool in modern election campaigns, but there is also a risk that such messages can backfire as recipients may feel intrusive and end up supporting a different candidate.
Political text messages (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
How to tell if a political text message is real
As election season approaches, it’s important to be vigilant about any political text messages you receive. Some messages may be genuine, from campaigns or organizations, but they could also be scams designed to trick you.
Here are some tips to help you determine if these messages are legitimate:
Check for grammatical errors: Fake messages often contain grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and unnatural sentence structure, whereas legitimate organizations typically avoid such errors in their communications.
Check the source: If you receive a message claiming to be from a known political campaign or organization, verify it by contacting them directly using a trusted phone number or website rather than the information provided in the message.
Look for unfamiliar numbers: Legitimate political campaigns typically send text messages from known numbers. Scam text messages often come from unidentified or unusually long numbers.
Understanding brand communication: Be sure you understand how political campaigns will contact you; many organizations provide guidelines on their websites about what constitutes legitimate contact.
Person receiving a text message on a mobile phone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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How did they get my number?
Political organizations often obtain phone numbers from voter registration records, which contain the names, addresses and contact information of registered voters. These records are publicly available and accessible to anyone involved in political communications.
Additionally, political groups may purchase phone numbers from data brokers who compile extensive profiles using a variety of data points, including online activity, subscriptions, demographic information, etc. Essentially, even if you don’t give your phone number directly to these campaigners, they’re finding it online in other ways.
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Do these messages mean they can get my information?
While the messages themselves typically do not directly extract personal information, replying to or engaging with these texts can contribute to data profiles maintained by political organizations.
Each interaction gives you additional data points you can use to improve your outreach strategy, but be careful of the links within these messages. Phishing scams If it is not from a legitimate source.
Rules governing political documents
Here’s the problem. Do Not Call Registration That would be helpful, but unfortunately it doesn’t cover political matters. What about federal telecommunications law? That’s not very helpful either.
Why? Well, it’s a bit of a sticky situation. Lawmakers are worried about violating the First Amendment. And, frankly, they need to reach out to their constituents, too. So they’re not in a rush to put up barriers.
Well, there’s one rule: Political parties can’t use an autodialer to send you text spam unless you give them permission. But here’s the catch: The Supreme Court defined autodialers in a way that exempts many texting technologies.
So what does this mean for you? Well, if you’ve ever liked a political meme, answered an online survey about democracy, or donated to a cause, you’ve likely been on their radar. It’s prime time for political text message senders.
Man receiving political text message on smartphone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
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The best way to block political text messages and keep your phone safe
1. Block a contact
If you regularly receive calls or messages from the same number, you can block that number to stop those calls and texts from coming through. This is effective if the messages are coming from the same number, but may be less effective if the sender uses multiple numbers.
For iPhone
- open Messaging apps Find political text messages.
- Tap message To open it.
- Tap telephone number or Contact Name It’s at the top of the screen.
- Tap “IInformation icon.
- Scroll down and select “Block this caller.”
- Tap to confirm “Block contact”
For Android
SSettings may vary depending on the Android smartphone manufacturer
- open message Apps Find political text messages.
- Tap and Retain messages Until the menu appears.
- Tap “block” option (depending on your device, it may be labeled “Block Number” or “Add to Spam”).
- Tap to confirm “got it” or “block.
2. File a Reply and/or Complaint
Reply to a text “Stop,” “Unsubscribe” or “cancel” You may opt out of receiving future communications from that sender. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also provides you with the option to report unsolicited texts by forwarding them to 7726 (“SPAM”) or filing a complaint online.
Respond to text messages with “Stop” (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
3. Delete and report spam
On both iPhone and Android, you can delete unwanted messages or report them as spam. To do so, follow these steps:
For iPhone:
- If the sender is not in your contact list and has not responded, “Report spam” Options below Messages.
- choice This option To delete the message and confirm your decision, Delete and report spam Report it to Apple and your carrier.
Android:
SSettings may vary depending on the Android smartphone manufacturer
- open Messaging apps Find the unwanted messages.
- Tap and Ownership message Until the menu appears.
- choice “Report spam” or “Report spam” From the menu.
- Verify the action Delete the message and report it to your carrier.
Report and delete spam on iPhone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutson)
4. Filter unknown senders
Both iPhone and Android have the ability to filter messages from unknown senders, reducing interruptions from unwanted texts.
For iPhone:
- open Settings app.
- Scroll down and select message.
- Scroll down again “Filter unknown senders” Switch Above.
For Android:
SSettings may vary depending on the Android smartphone manufacturer
- open Message app.
- Tap Three dot menu icon It’s in the top right corner.
- choice “setting” Select from the drop-down menu.
- choose “Spam prevention.”“
- Turn it on “Enable spam protection“Filter messages from unknown senders to a separate folder”
5. Contact a political campaign
As a last resort, you can also contact the campaign office to report the message, which can help prevent future communications and let the campaign know about the problem, especially if the campaign isn’t following best practices.
6. Invest in a personal data deletion service
To further reduce the number of unwanted political text messages, consider investing in a personal data removal service. No service promises to delete all your data from the Internet, but if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of continually deleting information from hundreds of sites over a long period of time, a removal service can be useful. Check out my recommendations for data deletion services here.
7. Never click on links in political documents
Be careful with links and do not click on links in political texts; they may contain malware or lead to scam sites. Also, be aware that some political texts may be fake and designed to mislead or deceive. Scammers often take advantage of increased election season communications by posing as legitimate political campaigns, nonprofits, or government agencies. These fake texts may create a sense of urgency or panic to extract personal information or solicit fraudulent donations.
The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that could install malware and access your personal information is to have a strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection will also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, and keep your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the winners of the best antivirus protection of 2024 for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
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Important points about the cart
Political text messages are not only annoying, but they can also invade your privacy and influence your voting decisions. As the election approaches, it is essential that you take control of your phone and block these unwanted messages. Remember, your vote is your voice. Don’t let unwanted text messages drown it out. Understanding how to manage these communications can help you stay focused on making informed choices this election season, without outside influences.
Have you ever received a political text message? What did it say? How many times have you received such messages? Have you tried the following methods to stop it? Cyberguy.com/Contact Us
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