AF2M, bringing together many operators, including the 4 main ones, offers several tips for detecting and preventing SMS spam.

Tired of unnecessary SMS disturbing your well -deserved vacation?On its Surmafacture site.FR, AF2M, association of operators joined by Free last March, helps consumers concerning all issues around the billing of telecoms services.It thus offers several information concerning spam by SMS.

Spam or not spam, how to sort?

To use a definition of the CNIL (National Commission for Computer Science and Liberties), spam is the massive, and sometimes repeated sending, of unlined electronic messages (email, SMS, MMS, etc.), to people with whomThe sender has never had contact and whose call number he has “captured” irregularly.Spam can also be an unwanted message to deceive and extract money or personal information from the user.»

The law of June 21, 2004, for confidence in the digital economy, aims to protect the consumer and reduce the risk of spam, specifying the conditions of commercial prospecting electronically (SMS, MMS, Emailing, etc.) ”AF2M.Thus, you must remain vigilant about sharing your mobile phone number, wherever (voice server, website or even paper questionnaire).However, all the SMS received that you would not like to have in your mailbox are not necessarily spam.

The operators thus offers a list of what is not considered spam:

"Even if these messages are not considered to be spam within the meaning of the law, if you wish to no longer receive messages from this sender, you can send stop to the shipping number of the received message or present in the received SMS" specifies theAF2M, before reviewing what is really spam.

These messages are often intended to encourage the user to click on an URL link, or to compose a special number, of course paying, see sending an SMS to a surcharged number.

What to do with spam?

First reflex in front of an SMS suspected of being spam: do not do what is indicated on the message.It can be a SMISHING that would lead to a unpleasant surprise both on your bill and for your bank details depending on the nature of the scam.AF2M then advises to send the STOP word by SMS to the shipping number of spam.The latter should then send you an SMS confirming that it has taken your request into account and is legally required to delete your contact details from its files.

Be careful however, the STOP sending only works for short 5 -digit shipping numbers starting with a figure between 3 and 8 included.

You can also report this type of message as soon as you receive it.Just use the short SMS 33700 number (free) to transfer a spam by SMS as soon as you receive it.Once the SMS is transferred, it will be requested to provide the SMS sender or the mention replacing this number.

"All of these reports allow operators not only to follow and analyze the phenomenon, but also and above all to carry out actions with spammers" explains AF2M.