iPhone Multi-person (group) SPAM text message hell

[OtinG]

I received a Multi-person (group) SPAM text message today. I probably could have simply deleted it, but I like to block SPAM phone numbers and place them in a contact named "Ignore". Of course Apple in its stupidity now makes us use 9 or 10 screen presses to block a single text message phone number and place it in an Ignore contact, so imagine how long it takes if the darn thing has 20 phone numbers attached to it! It was a long and tedious undertaking, especially since irate others within this group text were pissed and texting just how pissed they were, which slowed the process even further. Plus you have to be careful because Apple places links to landmines within the popups, like the horrible "Allow person to track me" link. WTF Apple! Bleeping morons!

So the reason for this post, other than just venting: Anyone know of a simpler way to place all those phone numbers into a "Ignore" contact and block them all in one set of instructions rather than having to do each one separately?

[Deskisamess]

It takes 3 screen taps to block a number from a text, 4 to add it to an existing contact.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

It takes 3 screen taps to block a number from a text, 4 to add it to an existing contact.

I was going from memory and guessing how many, not that it matters since 7 is way more than it used to take. Nevertheless, I’m hoping to find a much faster method because 7 x 20 is 140 screen taps to block everyone from that 20 person group SPAM text. Plus that is a lot of oppotunity to accidentally tap the wrong link and perhaps give one of them the ability to track your phone. Seven taps is still way too many per phone number, it should take maybe 2 or 3 at most. And there should be a way to simultaneously block all of the numbers in 2 or 3 taps. Apple has turned KISS into a friggin’ joke.

[Deskisamess]

It doesn't take 7 taps total. 3 gets you to the block option, 1 more let's you add it to an existing contact.

What irks me about the issue is that the providers, in my case Verizon, make me pay to really block spammers. I usually make use of the Silence Unknown Callers, but can miss calls I need to receive, like from the grandson's school, or my mom's doctor, since both have more than one outgoing line. And that setting doesn't do anything to stop texts.

The spam texts from political groups is on the upswing for sure. I block the numbers and get on with my day.

If I could get family and friends to not text before 7:30 a.m. on weekdays, and 8:30 on weekends, that would be great. They get pissy when you ask them to wait until later in the day.

"Turn your phone off when you don't want texts" isn't a viable option when your 91 year old mom still lives on her own, and your BIL is fighting a losing battle with esophageal cancer.

[OtinG]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

It doesn't take 7 taps total. 3 gets you to the block option, 1 more let's you add it to an existing contact.

Actually you have multiple presses and scrolling to select the specific contact, in my case named "Ignore", to place the blocked number into that contact.

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

What irks me about the issue is that the providers, in my case Verizon, make me pay to really block spammers. I usually make use of the Silence Unknown Callers, but can miss calls I need to receive, like from the grandson's school, or my mom's doctor, since both have more than one outgoing line. And that setting doesn't do anything to stop texts.

The spam texts from political groups is on the upswing for sure. I block the numbers and get on with my day.

If I could get family and friends to not text before 7:30 a.m. on weekdays, and 8:30 on weekends, that would be great. They get pissy when you ask them to wait until later in the day.

"Turn your phone off when you don't want texts" isn't a viable option when your 91 year old mom still lives on her own, and your BIL is fighting a losing battle with esophageal cancer.

You might try using the customizable Do Not Disturb option. It isn't necessarily all that intuitive since they combined it under Focus in iOS 15, but it is customizable.

And yes, the SPAM phone calls and SPAM texts situations are way out of control. T-Mobile offers a free service to block phone SPAM, but it doesn't work very well. We need strict laws against it, with steep financial punishments. But that won't stop the international SPAMMERs. The Worst in my area are the people constantly wanting to buy my house to resell it. The housing market is through the roof nowadays, so I get several texts and phone calls each week, and a ton of snail mail too, from wannabe house flippers wanting to buy cheap and sell for a profit.

[Deskisamess]

The worst spam calls right now for me are the fake Directv calls, telling me we qualify for a 50% reduction in our bill. My husband does the phone dance with Directv every few months to keep our current discounts in place. I believe the scammers promise the lower price if you pay 6-12 months in advance, using gift cards from Amazon. Which evidently, people fall for, because they keep making the calls.

My husband keeps getting texts from folks wanting to know if we still want to sell our house. The house we sold in December, and is a matter of public record.