How To Stop IRL Spam Text Messages

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Not Sure What To Do With All Those Compliments? Stop IRL App Spam Texts With DoNotPay!

Receiving a compliment from someone you know and like is nice, but when it comes in the form of a vague text message, it can easily turn into a reason for concern. In the last few years, Americans across the country have been receiving multiple texts that someone gave them a compliment, followed by respective links for iOS and Android users.

Although getting compliments is pleasant and you may be tempted to check it out, if there’s one thing that we’ve learned in the Internet age, it is—never open links from unknown senders, be it an email or a spam text message.

So, what to do about the texts from the IRL app? Are they spam? Will they harm your private information if you succumb to your curiosity? This article will help you get answers and protect your privacy.

IRL App Text Spam Explained

IRL (short for In Real Life) is an app advertised as a social calendar, and available for download on the App Store and Google Play Store. It allows users to chat and make real-life social plans with their friends, classmates, and coworkers, combining messaging and calendar features. IRL also provides users with an option to explore various events nearby.

It was labeled as Our Favorite by Apple in the Social category and featured in multiple media outlets. The app achieved a combined user rating of 4.8 stars on the App Store and 4.9 stars on Google Play.

Does that mean those text messages are safe? The answer depends on what you consider safe nowadays. If you click on the link from the text and sign up, you are compromising your personal information like your address book. One thing is certain—this app is not trying to scam you into giving away your credit card details, and it’s not connected with sex trafficking rings.

How Am I Receiving Text Spam From the IRL App When I Don’t Have an Account?

Sending texts that contain Someone complimented you! See more on IRL: followed by links to the app stores for iPhone and Android devices, to people that don't have IRL accounts, is a part of IRL’s marketing strategy. That text usually means that one or more of your friends signed up for IRL and gave them access to their contacts.

Their current Terms of Service states that SMS messages are sent if:

  • Someone invites you to join
  • Adds you as a friend
  • Sends a nomination

Their terms and conditions allow even for people who are not registered to receive text messages from IRL or their registered users.

The supported carriers for this app include:

  • AT&T
  • Verizon
  • T-Mobile & Sprint
  • Alltel
  • CellularOne
  • Virgin Mobile
  • U.S. Cellular
  • Metro PCS

IRL claims that they don’t send more than one message per person every three days.

How To Stop IRL App From Sending Spam Text Messages

Even if you don’t feel threatened by texts coming from the IRL app, you don’t want to reach out for your phone and get disappointed after you see that it’s another compliment message. There are several methods to put an end to annoying IRL app texts, and they are listed in the table below:

Method

Works on iPhone

Works on Android

Text STOP

Filter unknown senders

Block the sender’s number

Use a third-party app

Eliminate IRL Text Spam by Texting Back

IRL is a legitimate app with an unfortunate approach to gaining more audience. Like every other real company, they offer you a way to opt-out of receiving messages that you consider spam.

When you get a compliment message we’ve described above, reply in the same thread by texting STOP. Another way to stop any SMS messages from IRL is to text STOP to 90884.

Since various scammers target unsuspecting users by spoofing legitimate businesses, our advice is to always research the number that the message came from. Texting back a spoofed number could lead to more messages as you mark your phone number as valid.

Filter Unknown Senders on Your iPhone To Stop Compliment Text Spam

In case the compliment texts keep coming back, you may need a more effective solution. Check out this useful feature that can stop spam texts on iPhone:

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Scroll down and select Messages
  3. Tap on Filter Unknown Senders until the toggle button turns blue

Turning this feature on will create a separate inbox named Unknown Senders in your messaging app. All SMS communication from unsaved contacts will end up there and won’t trigger notifications. Use it with caution though and check it occasionally since not all unknown senders should be ignored.

Fight Compliment Text Messages Spam by Blocking the Senders

Blocking a number is always an option. This method can be used by iPhone and Android users who want to stop spam texts. If your phone doesn’t allow you to block the unknown contact, save it first, and proceed with the method appropriate for your device.

How To Block Texts on iPhone

iPhone users can block the senders straight from a text message:

  1. Open the message that you want to stop
  2. Tap the contact icon at the top of the page
  3. Select info when additional options pop up
  4. Tap the arrow on the right (for iOS 13) or info again (for iOS 14)
  5. Choose Block this Caller

This method works on older iOS versions as well, but with minor differences.

How To Block Texts on Android Phones

Android phones differ depending on the manufacturer, but the process of blocking SMS senders looks similar across different brands:

  1. Open the SMS app and the message you want to eliminate
  2. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner
  3. Choose Block contact
  4. Select Delete conversation to remove the message
  5. Confirm your choice by tapping Block again

Third-Party Apps for Blocking IRL App Spam Texts

Many app developers try to attract users by creating new spam protection solutions. Some alternatives to your phone’s default spam protection are listed below:

App

PriceiOSAndroid
Nomorobo$1.99 per month / $19.99 per year

Key Messages

$0.99 to $30 for in-app purchases

SMS Shield

$0.99 for one month

$3.99 for six months

$5.99 for one year

Protect Yourself From Spoofed IRL App Spam Texts With DoNotPay

Spam messages like those coming from the IRL app are annoying but harmless. This doesn’t mean that you can let your guard down. Many scammers will use any opportunity to get a hold of your sensitive information.

DoNotPay can help you get revenge when scammers try to steal your credit card information. Our method is fast, convenient, and can even make you some money:

  1. Set up your DoNotPay account in a
  2. Select Robo Revenge when you log in
  3. Hit Create Your Card
  4. Provide the virtual credit card details on the fake website
  5. Check who the scammers are in the Blocked Transactions section when they try to charge the virtual card
  6. Send Demand Letters To the scammers with DoNotPay’s help

Your bank account will never be at risk during this process, and you might even get compensation after a successful lawsuit.

Did you know that some commercial text messages are illegal under the CAN-SPAM Act? If you want to stop them, use the method described above!

DoNotPay Is the Ultimate WAP (Weapon Against Powers-That-Be)

Our method for fighting spam texts and scammers behind them works whenever someone tries to compromise your credit card details, be it group text spam or texts from email addresses.

DoNotPay as the world’s first AI Consumer Champion can do so much more! Do you need to send demand letters to big companies like Comcast in small claims court? Do you want to ask Geico for a refund but you’re not sure how? We have the answers and tools to support your fight against bureaucracy.

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