Can I block someone texting me?

[Bacchus]

My last name is often mistaken for a Spanish name and recently I've started receiving texts from someone in Spanish. Other than asking them to stop texting me, is there a way I can block them? There is no phone number or other identification indicated by any of the texts so I could block the number.

 

[J. A.]

You can't add an unknown number to your blocked list, but you can filter iMessages from unknown senders, so there'll be a separate list, and you won't receive notifications when a message arrives.
Go to Settings - Messages - Filter Unknown Senders, and enable it.

 

[Bacchus]

Okay. Done. Thanks, J.A.

Now, then, where might that separate list show up?

 

[J. A.]

In your Messages app. You'll find "Contacts & SMS" at the left, and "Unknown Senders" at the right.

 

[Bacchus]

Hmmmm. Well, something's wrong then. I enabled it and later I received another text from the same sender but there isn't any second column for unknown senders nor any labeled for contacts & SMS. Just the same old format that I've always had.

We ARE talking about 'messages' where texts to me appear, right?

 

[J. A.]

Exactly.

 

[Pinkpoison]

First you have to go to Settings and Messages and in there turn on Filter Unknown Senders.
Then you will see those options in your Messaging app.

 

[Pinkpoison]

Sorry I just noticed that J. A. already told you to do that.
If you did it it's strange that the options are not showing up.

 

[Bacchus]

I agree.

Aha! I just now did a reset and now the two columns are now there. The only problem is that the text from the unknown sender is in the column for Contacts & SMS.

Judging from what the message says, it is telling some guy named Raul that his code for FaceBook is :34)$ etc. I have no dealings with FB so it's not in my contacts....

 

[Pinkpoison]

I don't actually enable the filter as I have never had any messages from unknowns but I wonder if you delete that last message (and any others if there are any) then turn off the filter and wait a couple of minutes and turn it back on maybe further messages from this unknown person will go into Unknown Senders.
Certainly can't hurt to try it.

 

[scifan57]

I agree.

Aha! I just now did a reset and now the two columns are now there. The only problem is that the text from the unknown sender is in the column for Contacts & SMS.

Judging from what the message says, it is telling some guy named Raul that his code for FaceBook is :34)$ etc. I have no dealings with FB so it's not in my contacts....

Looks like you mistakenly received a text message meant for Raul.

 

[Bacchus]

Correct. But it's not the first one I've received. And I'd like to block the sender (Facebook, I guess) from sending any more.

To me, there's no bigger PITA than FB....

 

[Bacchus]

I don't actually enable the filter as I have never had any messages from unknowns but I wonder if you delete that last message (and any others if there are any) then turn off the filter and wait a couple of minutes and turn it back on maybe further messages from this unknown person will go into Unknown Senders.
Certainly can't hurt to try it.

Okay. I agree - I don't think it can hurt to try it. I'll give it a shot....