iOS offers users of the iPhone and iPad an alternative to traditional text messages with iMessage, a great service integrated seamlessly unto the Messages app. iMessages between iOS users appear alongside SMS and MMS texts and avoid traditional messaging rates by utilizing WiFi or cellular data networks.
A drawback to iMessage, which is linked to your Apple ID, is that from time to time users will receive unsolicited messages and spam. While Apple hasn’t included the ability to flag spam directly in the Messages app, it is possible to report offenses. Doing so could ultimately cut back on the amount of spam reaching devices by flagging email addresses and numbers that repeatedly send unsolicited messages. Here’s how:
Take a screenshot of the offending message
Before simply deleting a spam iMessage, grab a screenshot directly from the Messages app. You can take a screenshot any time in iOS by simultaneously pressing the power on/off/standby and home buttons.
Email iMessage screenshot to Apple
Here’s where reporting spam isn’t exactly straightforward. Locate the screenshot you just took of the offending message (by default is is located on your iPhone or iPad’s Camera Roll in the Photos app), and attach it to an email addressed to imessage.spam@icloud.com.
In the body of the message be sure to include the full email address or number the spam message was sent from as well as the date and time the message was received. Sent the email off to Apple and you’re done.
[Pro-tip: you can also report spam sent to iMessage on your Mac following the same steps above.]
Again, reporting spam might not result in any immediate action from Apple, but in the long run it should help to cut down on offenders. For more info on reporting iMessage spam, see Apple’s support page on the topic.
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