Text messages sent to your phone as spam are at best a nuisance and at worst a threat to your personal security. But somewhere in between is a unique type of text message spam that includes propaganda to convince you who to vote for in the upcoming election.
Sure, it’s a hassle, but is it more than that? What is something more dangerous that you need to be aware of?
If you’re receiving unwanted political text messages from a fundraiser, here’s what you need to know, and how to take back your phone and block these texts permanently. With the upcoming election, you should be free to vote without being influenced by text messages from strangers. How did they get your phone number?
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a man is on the phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
What is a political newsletter?
Political text messages are communications sent via SMS from political campaigns, party committees, political action committees (PACs) and interest groups. The information is intended to solicit support, funding, votes, assess public opinion through surveys, and provide information on political events and initiatives.
Due to their high open rates and immediate impact, they have become a popular tool in modern campaigns. However, there is a risk that such messages can backfire, as recipients may find them intrusive and choose to support other candidates.
political newsletter (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
How to tell if a political text message is legal
As election season approaches, it’s important to remain vigilant about the political newsletters you receive. While some may be genuine communications from events or organizations, others may be scams designed to deceive you.
Here are some tips to help you determine the legitimacy of these messages:
Check for syntax errors: Disinformation often contains grammatical errors, spelling errors or awkward sentence structures. Legitimate organizations typically ensure that their communications are free of such errors.
Verification source: If you receive a message claiming to be from a known political movement or organization, verify it by contacting it directly using a phone number or website you trust (not the information provided in the message).
Find an unknown number: Legitimate political campaigns often send text messages from identified numbers. Scam text messages often come from unidentified or unusually long numbers.
Understand brand communication: Be familiar with how political campaigns say they will contact you. Many organizations provide guidance on legal communications on their websites.
People who receive text messages on their mobile phones (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
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How did they get my phone number?
Political organizations often obtain phone numbers from voter registration records, which include the names, addresses and contact information of registered voters. These records are public and available to anyone involved in political communications.
In addition, political groups may purchase phone numbers from data brokers who compile broad profiles using a variety of data points, including online activity, subscriptions, and demographic information. Essentially, even if you don’t provide your phone number directly to these activists, they will find it online through other means.
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Do these messages mean they can access my information?
While the messages themselves typically do not directly extract personal information, responding to or engaging with these texts can contribute to the data archives maintained by political organizations.
Each interaction provides additional data points that can be used to refine your outreach strategy. However, please be careful with links in these messages as they may lead to Phishing attempts If not from a legitimate source.
What rules govern political texts?
Here’s the thing. you would think Do not call the registration office Would be helpful, but unfortunately it doesn’t cover politics. And those federal laws regarding telephone communications? They weren’t much help either.
Why? Well, this is a tricky situation. See, lawmakers are worried about stepping on the First Amendment’s toes. Plus – let’s be honest – they need to reach out to voters in person. Therefore, they are in no hurry to erect obstacles.
Now, there is a rule. Political groups cannot use autodialers to send you spam messages unless you agree to do so. But here’s the thing. The Supreme Court’s definition of autodialer lets many text messaging technologies off the hook.
So, what does this mean for you? Well, if you’ve ever liked a political meme, participated in an online survey about democracy, or donated to a cause, you’ve probably got their attention. It’s like open season on political texting.
A man receives a political text message on his smartphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
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The best way to block political text messages and keep your phone safe
1. Block contact information
If you frequently receive calls and text messages from the same number, you can block the number to prevent those calls and text messages from reaching you. This method works well if the message comes from the same number, but may be less effective if the sender uses multiple numbers.
on iPhone
- Open messaging app and find political newsletters.
- Click message Open it.
- Click telephone number or Contact person name at the top of the screen.
- Click “I” Information icon.
- Scroll down and select “Block this caller.”
- Click to confirm “Block contact.”
on android
SSettings may vary depending on your Android phone manufacturer
- Open message app and find political newsletters.
- tap and Keep message until the menu appears.
- Click “blocked” option (this may also be marked as “Block number” or “Add to spam” depending on your device).
- Click to confirm “OK” or “Clogged.
2. Reply and/or file a complaint
Reply text “stop,” “Unsubscribe” or “Cancel” You may be able to opt out of receiving future communications from this sender. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also provides the option to report unsolicited text messages by forwarding them to 7726 (“SPAM”) or by filing a complaint online.
Use “Stop” to reply to text messages (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
3. Delete and report spam
On both iPhone and Android, you can delete unwanted messages and report them as spam. Here’s how:
On iPhone:
- If the sender is not in your contact list and you have not yet responded, you will see “Report spam” options below the message.
- choose this option Delete the message and confirm your decision with a click Delete and report spam Report it to Apple and your carrier.
Android:
SSettings may vary depending on your Android phone manufacturer
- Open messaging app and find unwanted messages.
- tap and catch message until the menu appears.
- choose “Report spam” or “Report spam” from the menu.
- Confirm action Delete the message and report it to your carrier.
Report trash and delete and report trash on iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutson)
4. Filter unknown senders
Both iPhone and Android have the ability to filter messages from unknown senders, thereby reducing the clutter caused by unnecessary text.
On iPhone:
- Open Settings application.
- Scroll down and select information.
- Scroll down again to “Filter unknown senders” and switch it exist.
On Android:
SSettings may vary depending on your Android phone manufacturer
- Open Messaging app.
- Click three dot menu icon in the upper right corner.
- choose “settings” from the drop-down menu.
- choose “Spam protection.“
- turn on “Enable spam protection” Filter messages from unknown senders into separate folders
5. Connect with political movements
As a last resort, you may contact the event’s office to report the message. This may help prevent future communications and bring the issue to the attention of the campaign, especially if they are not following best practices.
6. Invest in a profile deletion service
To further reduce the amount of unnecessary political text messages, consider investing in a profile removal service. While no service promises to delete all of your data from the internet, having a deletion service is great if you want to continuously monitor and automate the process of continuously removing information from hundreds of sites over an extended period of time. Check out my preferred data removal services here.
7. Never click on links in political text
Please treat links with caution and do not click on links in political text as they may contain malware or lead to fraudulent websites. Also, please be aware that some political texts may be false and designed to mislead or deceive you. Scammers often disguise themselves as legitimate political campaigns, nonprofits, or government agencies to take advantage of the heightened communications of election season. These fake text messages may attempt to extract personal information or solicit fraudulent donations by creating a sense of urgency or panic.
The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to install strong antivirus software on all your devices. This protection also alerts you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Learn about my picks for the 2024 winners of the best antivirus protection for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Political newsletters can be annoying, but they can also pose risks to your privacy and influence your voting decisions. As the election approaches, it’s crucial to take control of your phone and block these unwanted messages. Remember, your vote is your voice. Don’t let it get inundated with unsolicited text messages. By understanding how to manage these communications, you can focus on making smart choices this election season without outside influence.
Have you ever received a political newsletter? What does it say? Do they keep coming? Have you tried one of these methods to stop it? Please write to us Cyberguy.com/contact
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