[04-25-11 UPDATE, If you are having problems with texts that do not come from AIM please check my new post stopping spam texts part 2.] A few days ago I started getting random “stock tip” text messages on my iphone:
These were from what appeared to be some kind of AOL instant messenger account. I did not want to reply or do anything with them, assuming that would tell the spammer I was alive and he would then fill my inbox with more crap.
I called AT&T customer service (611 from my iPhone) and after a long wait I finally had a live customer service agent to work with. I explained the situation to her, she said “type in “stop” and by law they have to stop sending you spam” I explained it was not coming from a phone, but rather an AIM account. She had no idea what I was trying to explain. She had no solutions, other than to buy some AT&T service for $5.00 a month that lets you block messages from certain numbers. Well since this is coming from some odd server I doubt that would help.
After a little google research I discovered you can block ALL AIM messages to your phone by doing the following:
Type the word “out” to the following number 265019
In a few seconds I received a confirmation that I am now blocking all messages from AOL instant messenger.
I hope this helps someone else who is having issues with AIM spam via text messages. AT&T customer service certainly wont help you.
© 2010, Bill Gillam. All rights reserved.
Thank you so much for this tip! I, too, started to receive these random texts two days ago and am not sure how I "opted in" to this spam. You're a lifesaver!
thank you very much .. its been going on for over 6 months more than 5 times daily and it was about porn websites so made me look weird in my inbox
Thank you! Someone was trying to phish my info via AIM spam. I am so grateful to have found your web page.
Lord you have absolutely made my day, thanks for this tip!
I have been getting aim spam for years and I did exactly what you said, the automated service said I did block all aim users, but I'm still getting the texts! I have AT&T too. Is this happening to anyone else?
I just tried this, and the AIM system replied back with different options.
Said to reply with "stop all" to stop all AIM messages, rather than "out".
I did that and the AIM system came back with message that all AIM messages will be blocked. Hope so.
This doesn't work. I also have AT&T. I even called aim, (because I don't remember my old password to the name that's signed onto my phone) and they were going to charge me to fix my issue. Does anyone have another solution?
Mandi,
It works great- I have not received one txt from an AIM account since I did this 6 months ago. Not sure what you are doing wrong- it was simple, fast and permanent fix for the AIM spam I was getting.
bill
Thank you so much, this seriously is such a lifesaver, I was receiving 4-5 of these messages every single day and didn't know how to stop them!
thank you so much….I was desperate…..I tried it and so far so good. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much! The Verizon guys said, oh you know this person….there is nothing to do. I do not AIM and was receiving 8-10 texts a day. You saved my sanity!
Actually AOL/AIM has changed this. Now if you want to stop all AIM text messgaes from your phone you need to text "stopall" (without quotes) to 265019.