Fell for a Marco Polo Spam Text? Stop It With DoNotPay!

The world of social media is dominated by big players like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, but that doesn’t mean that app developers stopped trying to create the next big thing. An app can rise and fall as smartphone users keep looking for new and interesting ways to connect.

Marco Polo is an app that has Stay in touch with the people who matter most to you as its tagline. It’s available for iPhone and Android users, and it leans heavily on video calls. While it generated great reviews on both major app stores, it also witnessed an increase in negative comments for sending out spam text messages and using spoofing.

Marco Polo Text Message Spam Revealed

If you received an SMS from a family member or a dear friend asking you to download this cool app so they can send you a video message, what would you do? Many people go for it since the text came from a seemingly trustworthy sender. That response is not the best course of action when it comes to Marco Polo.

Once you install the app, it will gain access to your contacts and use it for their aggressive marketing purposes.

Many users reported that their friends and acquaintances got bombed by spoofed messages with their names. The text usually includes an invitation to download Marco Polo with a fake promise that the sender left them a video message. Once you download it and log in, there’s no trace of the message. The supposed sender is not informed and only finds out when people from their address book start complaining.

Fight the Scammers With DoNotPay’s Help

Spam texts like those coming from Marco Polo are inconvenient and annoying. It can be straight-up embarrassing to explain the video message invitation texts to your coworkers or other important contacts from your phone. While they’re not meant to cause any financial harm, these messages can also be the target of spoofing by real scammers and create serious damage.

Scammers who want to get your credit card details can spoof Marco Polo texts and have you click on the link that leads to a fake website asking you to enter your credit card details. If that happens, DoNotPay can help you turn the tables on them and even get compensation in the process:

1. Set up your DoNotPay account in a web browser
2. Log in and choose Robo Revenge
3. Click on Create Your Card to get a virtual credit card that is not linked to your bank account
4. Type in the virtual credit card details on the fake website from a spoofed Marco Polo text
5. Get the scammers’ identity when they try to charge the card
6. Send Demand Letters To them with DoNotPay’s assistance

This method will work on all kinds of spam containing malicious links targeting your sensitive financial information:

• Robocalls
• Spam emails
• Spam texts from email addresses
• Group texts spam
• Commercial text messages illegal as per the CAN-SPAM Act

The Do’s and Don’ts of Spam Text Protection

The more you know about the protection from text spam, the better. By following these simple rules, you will be able to prevent the issues before they happen:

How To Stop Marco Polo Text Spam

Clicking on a link from a Marco Polo text message most probably won’t cause much harm. The app is legitimate even though their privacy policies leave a lot to be desired. One of the users left a comment on Techcrunch how he was tricked into downloading the app by a spoofed text from his mother. It even started with a private nickname she uses for him.

This example alone can be the cause for concern and motivate you to look for ways to block Marco Polo spam texts. Some of the most efficient methods include:

• Texting back STOP
• Blocking text messages on iPhone and Android phones
• Using alternative apps to block SMS messages

Stop Marco Polo App Spam Texts by Texting Back

If a business or a service that sends unsolicited text messages is legitimate, they will offer you a way to unsubscribe from such notifications. In most cases, you can stop the promotional SMS messages by replying STOP to the last message you received. According to Marco Polo’s Terms of Service, you can also text STOP to 60571 at any time.

While this method should demonstrate your clear lack of interest in the said company, sometimes it can create more problems. If the number the message came from is spoofed, you will be risking more unsolicited messages because replying to such a thread means your phone number is active.

For that reason, always Google the phone number before replying STOP to make sure it’s related to the company which promotions you want to avoid.

Block Marco Polo Spam Texts on your iPhone or Android

In case texting back doesn’t unsubscribe you from annoying Marco Polo messages, you can use your iPhone’s built-in options:

1. Open the messaging app and tap on the message you want to block
2. Hit the contact icon at the top of the page
3. Choose info from the list of options
4. Tap the arrow on the right (iOS 13) or info again (iOS 14)
5. Select Block this Caller

A similar process is used in older iOS versions.

Android users have a similar option at their disposal as an efficient way to stop unwanted text messages:

1. Open the app you use for messaging and the message you want to block
2. Hit the three dots in the upper right corner
3. Select Block contact
4. Choose Delete conversation to remove the message (optional)
5. Confirm by tapping Block one more time

While different smartphone brands powered by Android might include slightly different steps, the general method is the same.

How To Fight Marco Polo Spam Texts With Other Apps

Installing some of these third-party apps on your smartphone can provide additional protection and help you eliminate annoying spam:

Let DoNotPay Solve Your Other Issues With Bureaucracy

DoNotPay was created to be the ultimate protection of your consumer rights and provide the necessary know-how for resolving various administrative issues. Our app is the real game-changer if you need to lower your cable bills, get a refund from Avast, or stop incessant Groupon emails.

A range of useful tools and features awaits when you get DoNotPay in a web browser:

• Getting refunds or compensation for delayed or canceled flights
• Protecting yourself from spam mail
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• Getting rid of spam text messages
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