The short version

Quick answer

Save any messages you may need before blocking or deleting them. For a recognized marketing sender, consider a clear opt-out and retain it. For a suspicious request for personal or financial information, avoid links and verify independently. Reporting and device blocking can be useful, but neither is a ruling that a text was illegal or a guarantee that contact will stop.

Preserve before changing the thread

Keep the original message, full thread, visible dates, displayed sender, any consent record, exact opt-out and later messages. This applies to an original unwanted message too, not only one received after STOP.

Our suggested order protects your ability to explain what happened. It is not a promise that every platform supports export, recovery or the same blocking controls. Keep unchanged originals and separate notes; use the preservation guide and checklist.

Recognized sender: make the intended request clear

Under §64.1200(a)(10), STOP and other listed words in a reply are reasonable methods per se for revoking consent to covered communications. Other clear, reasonable methods may qualify. Covered requests must be honored within a reasonable time not exceeding ten business days.

A single qualifying nonmarketing confirmation differs from another promotion. Read the STOP guide for the conditions, scope and narrow informational-message waiver. A later message requires examination of purpose, timing, identity and applicable rules rather than automatic conclusions.

Source basis: 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200

Suspicious sender: safety is not an exemption from the law

The FTC advises against links in unexpected texts requesting sensitive information and recommends verifying a supposed company through known contact information. You do not need to engage a suspicious sender to use the reporting paths.

A sender’s refusal to obey the law does not itself remove otherwise applicable legal duties. The TCPA’s restrictions turn on statutory elements and exceptions, not a sender’s willingness to comply. Avoiding a suspicious reply is a safety choice, not a declaration that opt-out law cannot apply.

Source basis: FTC Consumer Advice · 47 U.S.C. § 227

Report, then inspect blocking options

The FTC lists forwarding unwanted texts to 7726, the messaging app’s spam-reporting feature and ReportFraud.ftc.gov as reporting paths. It also describes phone, carrier and app filtering tools.

Read the control’s explanation before using it, particularly whether reporting also blocks, deletes or shares a message. Device blocking is not necessarily a request delivered to a company. Do not rely on it as proof of consent revocation.

Source basis: FTC Consumer Advice

If contact continues, extend the same record

Add each later message with its date, exact content and displayed sender. Keep observations separate from conclusions: a different display does not establish whether the legal sender is the same.

Use prevention guidance for future settings and the STOP guide for the legal request. This publication provides education only; it does not collect messages, assess individual disputes or promise compensation.