Help Guides
How to report a scam text by forwarding it to 7726 on iPhone and Android.
Every scam text you forward helps your carrier block that sender for everyone else. It takes about fifteen seconds and costs nothing.
Forward the text to the number 7726. It spells SPAM on a phone keypad. It is free, it does not count against your messages, the scammer is never told, and Rogers, Bell, Telus and Freedom all use the forwarded texts to improve their blocking.
Never reply to the scam text itself, even with STOP. A reply tells the sender your number is live. Forwarding to 7726 is different: it goes to your carrier, not to them.
On an iPhone
Open the conversation in Messages
Tap the scam text so the conversation opens. Do not tap the link inside it.
Touch and hold the message bubble, then tap More
A menu appears. Tap More and a small circle appears beside the message with a tick in it.
Tap the forward arrow
It is the curved arrow in the bottom right corner of the screen.
Type 7726 as the recipient and tap Send
That is it. You may get a short thank-you reply from your carrier. You do not need to send anything else.
There is a second option on iPhone for texts from numbers not in your contacts. Under the message you will see a link that says Report Spam, or Report Junk on older versions. Tap it, then tap Delete and Report Spam. Messages sent through iMessage are reported to Apple. Ordinary texts are shared with your carrier where the carrier supports it. You cannot report a message after you have replied to it, and reporting does not block the sender, so block the number separately if you want it gone.
On an Android phone
Open the conversation in Messages
On most Android phones the app is Google Messages. On Samsung phones it may be Samsung Messages. The steps are nearly the same.
Touch and hold the scam message
A row of icons or a menu appears at the top of the screen.
Tap Forward
In Google Messages, tap the three dots and then Forward if Forward is not already showing. In Samsung Messages, tap Forward in the pop-up menu.
Enter 7726 and tap Send
Type 7726 in the recipient box, then send.
Google Messages also has its own reporting. In the list of conversations, touch and hold the scam conversation, tap Block, then Report spam, then OK. That sends the number and the recent messages to Google, and on some carriers also to your carrier, and blocks the number at the same time.
What happens after you forward it
Your carrier reviews the message and uses it to improve the filters that catch scam texts before they reach other customers. Rogers says it looks at the content of the message rather than the sender’s number, because scammers change numbers constantly. You may get a short automatic reply thanking you. You will not be asked for anything, and you will not be contacted about it again. The Government of Canada’s Get Cyber Safe service confirms the report is free and does not count towards your messaging or data.
Rather have someone show you once?
During a visit we set up your phone so scam texts are filtered, show you how to report and block in a few taps, and write the steps down for next time.
Book a VisitGet help today
We help people across Durham Region make their phones quieter and safer, and we write everything down so it sticks.
Get Help TodayFAQ
Common questions about 7726
- Does it cost anything to forward a text to 7726?
No. It is free on Canadian carriers and does not count towards your messaging or data allowance.
- Will the scammer know I reported them?
No. The forwarded message goes to your carrier, not back to the sender. Replying to the scam text is what tells them your number is live, so forward it, never reply.
- Does forwarding to 7726 block the number?
No. It helps your carrier block that kind of message for everyone, but it does not block the sender on your own phone. Block the number in your messages app as well.