How do I stop spam calls and scam texts — legally?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
You have a right not to be spammed, and several tools to enforce it. Under NTC rules on broadcast and push messaging (Memorandum Circular No. 03-03-2005), unsolicited commercial and promotional messages may be sent only to subscribers who have given prior consent or opted in, and providers must give a way to opt out — so a sender blasting you without consent is already breaking the rule. The SIM Registration Act (RA 11934) was enacted specifically to curb text scams by tying every SIM to a registered identity and letting providers deactivate SIMs used for fraud. Practically: reply with the 'STOP' or 'UNSUB' keyword to opt out of a legitimate sender, register in your telco's block or Do-Not-Disturb list, and turn on the built-in spam filters in Messages and your dialer. For outright scams, do not engage — screenshot and report the sender to your provider's spam-report channel and to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or NBI, since scam texts are also estafa raised one degree for being done through ICT (RA 10175).
Primary sources
- NTC Memorandum Circular No. 03-03-2005 (Broadcast Messaging Service) — opt-in consent + mandatory opt-out ↗
- RA 11934 (SIM Registration Act, 2022) — enacted to curb text scams; deactivation of SIMs used for fraud ↗
- RA 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act, 2012) — scam texts as ICT-committed estafa ↗
- PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group ↗
Frequently asked
Is unsolicited marketing text even allowed?
Only with your consent. NTC Memorandum Circular No. 03-03-2005 allows commercial and promotional messages to be sent only to subscribers who gave prior consent or opted in, and requires providers to offer an opt-out. A sender blasting you without consent is breaking the rule.
What actually stops the messages?
Reply 'STOP' or 'UNSUB' to opt out of a legitimate sender, register in your telco's block or Do-Not-Disturb list, and enable the built-in spam filters in your messaging and dialer apps. These are the practical levers on top of the NTC opt-in rule.
What about outright scam texts, not just spam?
Do not engage. Screenshot the message and report the sender to your provider's spam-report channel and to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group or NBI. Scam texts are estafa (Art. 315) raised one degree for being done through ICT under RA 10175, and the SIM Registration Act (RA 11934) lets providers deactivate SIMs used for fraud.
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