1. Is this actual SMS? If so, from what Short Code or Long Code number is
it being sent from?
It's coming from a wide variety of numbers (lots of random area codes and prefixes).
Calling any of those numbers gives a recording saying the number has been disconnected or is no longer in service.
2. If it is showing up on your iPhone in Messages, then it is an iMessage
Apple problem, and you have to deal with them.
No Apple gear involved. Just my personal number through "Boost Mobile" and the Android that's hooked up to it.
If you have replied STOP, and they don't stop, please do not delete them.
They're saved in the Google Messages "Spam" folder.
If they are through a 10DLC registered US Local Number, TCR will impose
fines "up to $1,000 per violation" with some carriers imposing fines up to
$10,000 per violation, though that is for Content Violation.
If I reply 'STOP', I won't get a text message from that same number again (other than the "You have successfully been unsubscribed, you will not receive any more messages from this number. Reply START to re-subscribe." message).
But they'll just text from another number.
If whomever is behind the campaign is recycling numbers that get banned or
popping up new companies, gather the data and let's get them fined out of
existence.
That seems likely.
Please reply with dates/times, source number, and content, as well as your
replies with STOP.
Give me a bit to get the data into a useful format.
Google doesn't provide an easy way to extract the messages from the phone, and the Google Messages web UI is even worse.
I know I can grab a copy through Google Takeout (which can take hours to return data), but I don't know if it includes copies of spam.
We have seen some companies claim that "something was broken so they didn't
get the STOP replies" but that does not excuse them from the fines -- they
are responsible for ensuring the STOP goes through or are alerted to the
fact that it does not.
Even if they didn't get the 'STOP' messages, you'd think a stream of hundreds of messages being reported to Google and/or the carrier would get them investigated....unless the "mark as spam" feature in Google Messages doesn't actually do anything. ;)
-A