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SlIppery rock GazeTTe
I Hate SPAM Texts!
calls. Depending on the phone, when a possible suspicious text arrives, the phone may ask you if you want to block the num- ber and delete the message. If it really is spam, just reply “yes” and block it.
If your smart phone isn’t asking that question, there is something else you can do to help alleviate the problem: program your phone to help you.
For an iPhone:
• Tap the info button beside the spam number from your Recents screen
• Then tap – Block this Caller
Another solution for iPhone users is to go in the settings app under Messenger and turn on “Filter unknown senders.” Be care- ful with this setting, though, if your doc- tor or other trusted professional sends text messages, they may get caught up in that.
Android phones work a bit differently:
decemBer 2022|11
• Tap the Messages app.
•Tap and hold the spam text conversa- tion in question.
•Tap Block.
Depending on the age and manufacturer of the phone, you may have to vary these directions a bit. If you can’t get it set up, please call your carrier; they are more than happy to help. Spam texts are a problem for them, too.
Spam texts are becoming more and more frequent, more and more annoying, and more and more costly to all of us. Let’s do what we can to curb the damage. It bene- fits us all.
Please send your thoughts and com- ments on this article to Sharon Koehler at Sharonk.SRG@gmail.com .
UGH! You hear a notification ping on your phone, or you get a notifi- cation on your watch. You put the TV on pause or stop what you’re doing, get up and find your phone where you left it, charging or just hanging out on your desk or bed, or maybe you even left it in the car, and you must hunt it down. You open it to find that the reason you have stopped what you are doing is to read a spam text about jewelry, insurance, male enhancement products, account issues with your bank, Amazon, etcetera, or some other thing that you have no interest in. UGH!
Spam texts, aka Smishing, are increas- ing in numbers that are out of control. U.S. News and World Report calculates that by the end of 2022 (now), 147 billion spam texts will have been delivered. That is a 68% increase over 2021. 68%! In one year.
Not only are they annoying, but they are costly to consumers as well. RoboKiller estimates that $10 billion dollars were lost by consumers in 2021 as a result of spam texts, with an average loss of $800. Now, add a 68% increase to those num- bers and try to wrap your head around that. The FCC’s Robocall Response Unit warns “that text messages are being used by scammers to target American consumers.”
What You Can Do
Spam texts are definitely out of control. However, there are some things you can do to stop the assault on your inbox.
• Do NOT respond to texts you suspect are fraudulent. A lot of us think that if we reply NO or STOP, we are stopping the onslaught, but that is not the case. A reply of any kind alerts the scammers that they have reached a live number and the messages will continue.
• Definitely do NOT click on any links or attachments in the message. Some people think that if they follow the links, they will get to a place where they can be unsubscribed. That is not the case. Don’t click the links.
Report spam texts to the FCC, FTC, and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you don’t want to get involved with the government, then at least report it to the company that appears to have sent it, like Amazon, Zale’s or your bank
Sharon Koehler
Stone Industry Consultant
(if there is one listed). Many big compa- nies like Amazon, FedEx, Costco, etcet- era, will put scam alerts and information on their websites.
Never share personal or financial infor- mation by text, email, or phone call.
• Learn how to spot suspicious texts. Scam texts are generally full of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors, much like spam emails.
• Check with your phone carrier to see if they offer the 7726 service. This ser- vice will let you block messages before they get to you. If they don’t, download an app like RoboKiller, Hiya, Trucaller, or Call Control to help with the problem.
• Another avenue is to go to CTIA. org. This is a site provided by the wire- less industry to learn about the different blocking services provided by different carriers.
• Put your phone number on your state and the federal “DO NOT CALL” list (www.donotcall.gov/). Some people have lost faith in the Do Not Call sys- tem because scammers figured out some work-arounds, but once your number is on the list you must give permission to receive texts from a company. The thing is that legit companies will follow the list, but scammers – not so much.
• Report spam texts to your carrier. This helps them block spam numbers before they get to you or another customer.
Smart phones are getting better and bet- ter at blocking spam texts, much like spam
Training & Education
Grow Your Countertop Shop
Continued from page 5
Be different and reap the rewards.
The moral of the story is that you want to differentiate yourself from your com- petition. I can guarantee that NONE of your competitors are calling their custom- ers, checking in on them after their proj- ect, and then asking for a review. That is taking your customer service to the next level, and in return will get you a ton of Google reviews.
Your competitors aren’t thinking about voice search and ADA compliancy. And most shop owners or managers aren’t
doing selfie social media video posts. The more different you are from your com- petitors, the more you will stand out from them... and the more your shop will grow with quality retail customers.
Stephen Alberts is the owner of the Countertop Marketing Co and STONE ENGAGE. They specialize in helping countertop companies grow the retail side of their business outside of word- of-mouth and referrals. They also offer software to help you engage more with customers and close more countertop projects. To learn more visit countertop- marketingco.com or stonengage.com. You can also email Stephen at steve@counter- topmarketingco.com.
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