Block the 1-410-100 messages

Maybe if enough people comment here AT&T will see how many of their customers are fed up and will do something about it.

Not likely. Try searching the forum, there are hundreds of threads about spam and scam texts. One more won’t make a difference. The problem is not unique to ATT, all carriers have the same problem. From my own perspective, the problem is not dramatically increasing. I get very few spam texts and those that I have reported don’t seem to recur. Maybe I’m just lucky but it’s not a big issue to me, just a minor annoyance.

I think for some it's increasing and for others (such as myself) it's more of an annoyance (like @sandblaster ) because I get very little. It may have something to do with who you use for your primary email or how much of your private info has been sold on the dark web. I kept my old email address when I changed providers and moved to another state and they seem to do an excellent job of stopping the spam that comes thru. I also have a couple of throwaway gmail accounts that gets very very little spam/scam.

Those numbers indicate the texts are coming from email addresses through the email to text gateway. Yes there are many legitimate uses for texts from email. It is not possible to block those 1-410 numbers. When you forward one of those texts to 7726 and report the number, ATT is able to determine the originating email address and block that email. Unfortunately, the scammers and spammers just use a different email address.

Almost everyone is getting those types of message. The point of origin changes everytime so it's almost impossible to filter them out. And being as most of them come from overseas, U.S. laws don't apply to them so legally forcing them to stop is extremely difficult if not just plain impossible. Most are computer generated so besides the original authoring of the message, there are essentially no humans involved unless you click on a link or call a number.

The only thing you can do is not respond to them and delete them as soon as possible.

Just turned off email-to-text, but to get to the tech support person in AT&T is a trick. Yes, keep "article 446389" card ready.

First, don't go to AT&T Store, they don't know how and have no capabilities to do such thing. The first person did not even attempt to help me -- I had to seek help from second and third person, that were less snobby. (Also, the first person could not even demonstrate how to forward message to 7726.)

Second, call 611. (BTW, the 611 did not work yesterday or this morning). They will teach to forward to 7726, but I was cutting them by saying truth (I forwarded already over 100 message) Stand your ground: goal is find a smart technical person that is willing to help.

P.S. Webchat at att.com is a big HTML joke: the agent on other end said they enabled protection, but in fact they did nothing. (That's why I went to AT&T Store)

@async Read and understand the response from @sandblaster .

Hi there patchelect10! We can point you in the right direction. 

We understand how frustrating it is to get a text from a number that you do not know.   

Over the past year, there has been increase of spam or what is called phishing text messages, across all carriers. 

Let us provide some information about some things that you can do to prevent SMS and phishing texts. 

1. Forward the suspicious text to us at 7726. Messages forwarded to 7726 are free. They don't count toward your text plan. If you can’t see the number, forward the entire message to abuse@att.net.
2. Report spam and fraud text to us.
3. Send a suspicious text message to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org, or report it to the FTC.
4. Go to IdentityTheft.gov to learn more about this kind of criminal activity and how to stop it.

Also, we do have some mobile security apps at your disposal.  One of the biggest mobile security apps that we have is called AT&T Call Protect. This app is a great way to manage on or prevent these things from happing.  You can find out more about AT&T Call Protect, by clinking on the fore mentioned link.  

We do hope that this helps! Please reply back here, if you have any questions or need further help. 

Thank you for using the AT&T Community Forums

Matthew, AT&T Community Specialist

I understand the suggestions and thanks. My current issue is the inability on my part to get the cut and paste function working properly on my iPhone X. As son as I work out that issue I will at least be able to forward the annoying texts even if I cannot stop them.

Whatever happened to opt in instead of opt out?

You don’t need to cut and paste to forward a text on an iPhone. Select the text, then select more, than click the forward icon. Just FYI, those 1-410 numbers indicate the texts are coming from emails through the email to text gateway. The 1-410 number is assigned by the gateway. When you forward those texts to 7726 and respond with the 1-410 number, ATT should block the originating email address. Unfortunately, the spammers just keep using different email addresses.

Hello @patchelect10, let's look into why your cut and paste function isn't working properly.

You would want to make sure that you have the most recent software update to your device to ensure you have the latest features and device protection options.

If you continue to experience the cut and paste function not working properly. Use our Troubleshooting and Resolve Tool  by signing in for step-by-step help for your device. 

When you're saying opt in instead of opt out. What exactly are you wanting to opt into?

Let us know if this information helps, and thank you for reaching out to the AT&T Community Forum

Jeff, AT&T Community Specialist  

I managed to figure out the forwarding function, although I got a message "Thanks for reporting. Please reply with the sender phone number....." Obviously I don't really know it. Hopefully the "other end" will figure things out.

As for my "opt in" comment I meant that opting in to receiving texts vs having to opt out from everything. The assumption is that we WANT the junk and need to define it rather than assuming we DON'T want it unless we ask for it. I might allow this garbage from a previously dealt with sender, but the outright spamming of junk, be it texts or email, is what I am referring to. If I deal with AT&T for example, I can accept getting messages until I opt out, but if I never dealt with AT&T I don't want to have to opt out of their advertising.