TLDR
7726 spells "SPAM" on your phone's keypad, and it is the universal number for reporting scam texts to your wireless carrier in the United States. All major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, US Cellular) support it. Forwarding a scam text to 7726 helps carriers block the sender's number for all customers on their network. ScamVerify™ tracks 8 million+ threat records and adds AI-powered analysis on top of carrier reporting, checking sender reputation, embedded links against 74,032 malicious domains, and content patterns that carrier filters miss.
What Is 7726 and Why It Matters
The number 7726 is the industry-standard short code for reporting spam and scam text messages. The GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association) established this reporting channel, and every major U.S. wireless carrier has implemented it.
When you forward a scam text to 7726:
- Your carrier receives the message content and the sender's number
- The carrier adds the report to its spam database
- If enough reports accumulate against a number, the carrier blocks it network-wide
- Aggregated data is shared with industry anti-fraud groups
This system has been active for over a decade, but most people do not know it exists. A 2024 Pew Research study found that only 23% of Americans knew they could report spam texts to their carrier through any method.
| Carrier | Supports 7726 | Additional Reporting Method |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T | Yes | AT&T ActiveArmor app |
| Verizon | Yes | Verizon Call Filter app |
| T-Mobile | Yes | Scam Shield app |
| US Cellular | Yes | Online form at uscellular.com |
| Cricket | Yes (AT&T network) | N/A |
| Metro by T-Mobile | Yes (T-Mobile network) | N/A |
| Mint Mobile | Yes (T-Mobile network) | N/A |
| Google Fi | Yes | In-app spam reporting |
How to Forward a Scam Text to 7726: iPhone
Step 1: Open the Scam Text
Open the Messages app and find the scam text. Do not tap any links in the message.
Step 2: Copy the Message
Press and hold on the scam message bubble until the context menu appears. Tap "Copy" to copy the full text of the message.
Step 3: Create a New Message to 7726
Open a new message. In the "To" field, type 7726. Paste the copied message text into the message body and send it.
Step 4: Reply with the Sender's Number
Your carrier will reply with an automated message asking for the phone number that sent the scam text. Reply with the sender's 10-digit phone number (you can find this at the top of the original scam message conversation). Some carriers may ask you to forward the original message directly instead of copying.
Alternative Method: Forward Directly
On newer iOS versions, you can also:
- Press and hold the scam message bubble
- Tap "More..."
- Select the message with the checkbox
- Tap the forward arrow (bottom right)
- Enter 7726 as the recipient and send
How to Forward a Scam Text to 7726: Android
Step 1: Open the Scam Text
Open your messaging app (Google Messages, Samsung Messages, or your carrier's app) and find the scam text. Do not tap any links.
Step 2: Forward the Message
Press and hold on the scam message. Tap the forward icon (or select "Forward" from the menu). In the recipient field, type 7726 and send.
Step 3: Reply with the Sender's Number
Your carrier will send an automated reply asking for the sender's phone number. Reply with the 10-digit number that sent the scam text.
Google Messages Shortcut
If you use Google Messages, you can also:
- Open the scam conversation
- Tap the three-dot menu (top right)
- Select "Details" then "Block & report spam"
- This reports to Google and your carrier simultaneously
What Happens After You Report to 7726
The reporting pipeline works in stages:
| Stage | Timeframe | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate | Seconds | Carrier receives your report and logs the number |
| Short-term | Hours to days | Reports aggregate across all customers |
| Threshold reached | Days to weeks | Carrier blocks the number network-wide |
| Data sharing | Ongoing | Aggregated data shared with industry anti-spam groups |
| Network blocking | After threshold | Number blocked for all carrier customers |
The limitation of 7726 is that it is reactive and threshold-based. A scam number needs to accumulate multiple reports before the carrier takes action. Meanwhile, scammers rotate through disposable VoIP numbers constantly. ScamVerify tracks 608,145 unique scam phone numbers in FTC data alone, and many of those numbers were active for days or weeks before receiving enough carrier reports to trigger blocking.
Why 7726 Is Not Enough: What Carriers Miss
Carrier spam filters are designed to block known bad numbers and detect patterns in message volume. They are effective against high-volume robocall operations but have significant blind spots:
1. New numbers. A freshly provisioned VoIP number has zero complaint history. Until enough people report it, the carrier's filter has no reason to block it.
2. Low-volume, high-value scams. Pig butchering scams and targeted phishing use each number for only a few victims. These numbers never reach the carrier's blocking threshold.
3. Link analysis. Carriers check if a URL has been flagged, but they do not analyze the destination page. ScamVerify cross-references every link against 74,032 malicious domains in the URLhaus database and checks for known credential harvesting patterns.
4. Content sophistication. AI-generated scam texts now use perfect grammar, carrier-specific formatting, and personalized details. Carrier keyword filters catch obvious phrases like "you won a prize" but miss AI-crafted messages that mimic legitimate business communications.
5. Sender spoofing. Scammers can spoof caller IDs to make texts appear to come from legitimate short codes or local numbers. 7726 reports help identify the real sending infrastructure, but only after the spoofed message has already been delivered.
How ScamVerify Adds to Your Defense
Reporting to 7726 handles carrier-level blocking. ScamVerify handles the analysis that tells you whether a specific text is a scam before you fall for it.
| Feature | 7726 Carrier Reporting | ScamVerify Text Checker |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks sender for all users | Yes (after threshold) | No (individual analysis) |
| Analyzes link destinations | No | Yes, against 74,032 domains |
| Checks FTC complaint history | No | Yes, 6.2 million+ records |
| AI content analysis | No | Yes, pattern recognition |
| Instant risk assessment | No (delayed blocking) | Yes, real-time results |
| Works on all carriers | Yes | Yes (web-based) |
The two tools are complementary. Forward scam texts to 7726 to protect other people on your carrier's network. Check them on the ScamVerify text checker to protect yourself with an immediate risk assessment.
How to Report to Additional Agencies
7726 is the first step. For maximum impact, also report to:
- FTC: File a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC aggregates reports to identify large-scale operations and take enforcement action. The FTC database contains 7.7 million+ complaints.
- FBI IC3: If you lost money, file a complaint at ic3.gov. IC3 coordinates federal law enforcement responses to cybercrime.
- FCC: File a complaint at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov for unwanted texts and calls.
- State Attorney General: Most state AG offices accept scam reports through their websites.
For a comprehensive walkthrough of all reporting channels, see our complete guide to reporting scam texts.
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FAQ
Does 7726 work internationally or only in the United States?
7726 works in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and several other countries through the GSMA's global spam reporting framework. However, the specific carrier response and blocking mechanisms vary by country. In the US, all major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, US Cellular) and their MVNOs support 7726.
Will the scammer know I reported them to 7726?
No. The scammer receives no notification that you forwarded their message to 7726. The report goes directly to your wireless carrier. The scammer cannot see that you forwarded the message, and your phone number is not shared back with the reported sender.
How many reports does it take for a carrier to block a number?
Carriers do not publicly disclose their exact blocking thresholds. The number of reports needed varies by carrier, the type of content, and the sending volume from that number. High-volume spam numbers sending thousands of messages may be blocked after relatively few reports. Low-volume scam numbers may take longer to accumulate enough reports. This is one reason why ScamVerify's real-time analysis is a valuable complement to carrier reporting.
I forwarded a text to 7726 but did not get a reply. Did it work?
Yes, the report was likely received even without a confirmation reply. Some carriers send automated replies asking for the sender's number, while others accept the forwarded message silently. If you are on a carrier that does not reply, your report was still logged. You can also report the same text through your carrier's spam-blocking app (AT&T ActiveArmor, Verizon Call Filter, T-Mobile Scam Shield) as a backup.
Can I report texts from short codes (5-6 digit numbers) to 7726?
Yes. While most legitimate business texts come from short codes, scammers sometimes use compromised or spoofed short codes. Reporting a suspicious short code text to 7726 helps your carrier investigate whether the short code has been compromised. However, be aware that legitimate services like banks, airlines, and delivery companies also use short codes, so verify with the company directly before reporting.
