The daily flow of notifications from banking institutions often turns into real information noise, distracting from important matters. Many users of Android smartphones are faced with a situation where Advertising mailings and offers of credit products come more often than actual notifications about transactions. This is not only annoying, but also creates the risk of missing a really important message about account security or transaction confirmation.
Fortunately, the Android operating system provides a wide range of tools for filtering incoming messages. You can set up blocking both at the level of the device itself and through the services of a telecom operator or personal bank accounts. In this article, we will analyze all available methods, from simple notification settings to using specialized applications and USSD commands.
It is important to understand that completely disabling all messages from the bank can be dangerous, since you will no longer receive confirmation codes for logging into the application or paying for purchases. Therefore, our goal is not total blocking, but competent blocking traffic segmentationthat allows us to weed out spam while preserving critical alerts.
Setting up filters in the standard messages application
Modern versions of Android, especially in shells from Samsung, Xiaomi and Google have built-in powerful anti-spam algorithms. The first step should always be to check the settings of your default application Messages. Often it is enough to activate one option to reduce the number of unwanted emails significantly without installing third-party software.
Go to the application settings and find the section responsible for anti-spam protection or filtering. This path may differ for different phone models. For example, on pure Android devices the path usually looks like this: Settings → Antispam. Here you can enable the known spammers filter, which automatically hides messages from numbers included in global blacklists.
Some manufacturers allow you to create your own filtering rules. You can configure the system so that messages from short numbers (from which mailings often come) go into a separate “Spam” folder and do not emit a sound signal. This allows you to save your correspondence history, but not bother you with sound notifications.
⚠️ Attention: When enabling aggressive filters, be sure to check your Spam folder once every few days. Sometimes important confirmation codes from the bank's security service or notifications about card blocking may accidentally end up there.
If standard tools seem insufficiently flexible to you, you should consider using advanced settings. In the filtering menu, you can often specify keywords, the presence of which in the text of a message will lead to its automatic blocking. This is an effective way to deal with template mailings.
Add the keywords "credit", "approved", "limit" and "offer" to the filter to automatically hide advertising texts, while saving messages with the words "code", "operation" and "balance".
Using third-party blocking applications
When built-in The phone's functions are not enough; specialized applications from the store come to the rescue. The leaders in this niche are solutions from Google Play. The leaders in this niche are solutions from Kaspersky, Dr.Web and specialized blockers like Should I Answer?. These apps use huge databases of numbers, updated in real time by a community of users.
The main advantage of third-party solutions is the ability to fine-tune the rules. You can create a rule that will block all messages containing certain phrases, or all messages from numbers starting with a certain prefix. This is especially true for combating banking spam, which often comes from specific service gateways.
However, installing such applications requires broad permissions. The app needs access to read your SMS and call logs to work effectively. Before installation, carefully study the developer's privacy policy to ensure the security of your personal data.
- 🛡️ Kaspersky Who Calls — identifies unknown numbers and blocks spam calls and SMS based on a cloud database.
- 🚫 Should I Answer? — a completely free application with an open database of numbers marked by users as spam.
- 🔒 Dr.Web Space Security — a comprehensive antivirus with a powerful anti-spam module for messages and calls.
After installing the application, do not forget to go to its settings and activate the “Anti-spam” mode. In some cases, you may need to set this application as the default message handler, although modern versions of Android allow it to run in the background without completely replacing the default application.
Disabling advertising mailings through the bank's personal account
The most civilized and correct way to get rid of intrusive advertising is to disable it directly at the source. Large banks, such as Sberbank, Tinkoff, VTB i Alfa-Bank, provide users with the opportunity to manage subscriptions to newsletters through their mobile applications or online banking.
Usually notification settings are located in the profile or security settings section. You need to find the item responsible for “Newsletters”, “Marketing Offers” or “Bank News”. Disabling these options will stop the flow of promotional SMS, but will leave transactional notifications active.
In some cases, the settings may be scattered across different menus. For example, in one section you disable push notifications, and in another you disable SMS notifications. Be careful and check all available switches to achieve the full effect.
| Bank | Section in the application | Option name | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sberbank | Settings → Notifications | Advertising messages | Low |
| Tinkoff | Profile → Settings | SMS notification (marketing) | Average |
| VTB | More → Settings | Consent to data processing (advertising) | High |
| Alfa-Bank | Profile → Communication settings | Newsletters and offers | Low |
If you cannot find the desired setting in the application, contact the support chat. The operator can independently disable marketing mailings on your number at your request. This right is enshrined in law, and the bank is obliged to stop mailing at the first request of the client.
Disabling mailing through the bank application is the most reliable method, since it prevents the generation of a message on the server side, and does not simply hide it on the phone.
Blocking through the services of a telecom operator
Mobile operators also offer tools to combat spam. Each major market player (MTS, Beeline, MegaFon, Tele2) has its own filtering services for incoming messages. They work at the network level, filtering out spam before it even reaches your smartphone.
Activation of such services is often paid or shareware (the first days are free, then subscription fee). You can connect them through the operator’s application, USSD command or personal account on the website. For example, MTS has an Antispam service, and Beeline has an Antispam service.
Using operator filters has its advantages: they do not consume your phone’s battery power and do not require the installation of additional applications. However, their algorithms may be less flexible compared to specialized software, and sometimes they may miss new types of spam.
⚠️ Attention: Tariffs and terms for the provision of antispam services from telecom operators may change. Before connecting, be sure to check the current cost in your personal account or check with your operator’s support service.
Operators also allow you to block a specific number from which spam comes. This can be done through the team or in your personal account settings. Blocking at the operator level ensures that you will not receive the message even if you reboot the phone or change the SIM card in this device.
How to find the antispam service code?
Enter the query “antispam [your operator] team” in Google search. Usually this is a short USSD command of the form 111...#, which instantly activates the service.
Manual blocking of specific numbers and short codes
If spam comes from the same number or short code, the easiest way is to add it to the blacklist manually. This method is suitable for situations where advertising mailings are carried out from a limited number of channels.
Open a message from an unwanted sender, click on the three dots in the corner of the screen (or hold your finger on the message) and select “Block” or “Blacklist”. After this, all messages from this address will be automatically rejected by the system.
It is worth noting that banks often change gateway numbers for mailings. Therefore, blocking one number may not completely solve the problem if the bank uses a pool of dozens of different senders. In this case, manual blocking becomes ineffective and requires constant user participation.
- 📱 Open a dialogue with the spam sender.
- 🔨 Click on the menu (three dots) and select Block.
- ✅ Confirm the action pop-up window.
For more advanced users, there is the option of blocking by mask. Some applications allow you to block all numbers starting with a certain combination of numbers. This can be useful if all spam comes, for example, from numbers starting with +7999...
☑️ Manual blocking algorithm
Legal aspects and complaints about spam
Sending advertising SMS without the prior consent of the subscriber is violation of the law in many countries, including Russia. The Law “On Advertising” clearly regulates that the distribution of advertising over telecommunication networks is permitted only with the prior consent of the subscriber.
If the bank continues to send you advertising after you have withdrawn your consent, you have every right to file a complaint. In Russia, this is done by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS). You can file a complaint online through the department’s website, attaching screenshots of received messages.
Practice shows that after contacting the FAS, large banks quickly respond and exclude the number from their mailing lists to avoid fines. This is a radical, but very effective method of combating stubborn spammers who ignore standard unsubscribe settings.
⚠️ Attention: When filing a complaint, make sure that you have evidence that you did not consent to the mailing list or have already withdrawn it. Save screenshots of messages and the history of requests to bank support.
Remember that your peace of mind and time are worth more than a few minutes spent filing a complaint. Systematic prosecution of spammers using legal methods helps clear the airwaves not only for you, but also for other users.
Before filing a complaint with the FAS, try writing the phrase in the bank's chat: "I demand that you stop sending out advertising based on Article 18 of the Federal Law 'On Advertising'." Often this is enough for the operator to manually disconnect you from the database.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will blocking SMS affect the receipt of confirmation codes?
No, if you have configured filtering correctly. Blocking by keywords (for example, “credit”) or by disabling marketing mailings in your personal account does not affect service messages with codes. However, if you add a specific number to the blacklist, you will not receive any messages from it, including codes. Be careful when manually blocking.
Is it possible to block all SMS from short numbers?
Yes, many antispam applications and some built-in Android filters allow you to block messages from short numbers (usually 5-6 digits). This is an effective method, since almost all banking advertising comes from such gateways. Service messages from banks also often come from short codes, so this method requires checking the spam folder.
Why do I continue to receive SMS after unsubscribing in the bank application?
This may be due to a delay in synchronizing the bank databases or because you unsubscribed from only one type of mailing (for example, email), but the SMS remained active. It is also possible that your number was included in the database of a bank partner, and not the bank itself. In this case, only re-checking all the settings or filing a complaint with the FAS will help.
Is it safe to install applications to block SMS?
It is safe if you download them from the official Google Play store and choose applications from well-known developers (Kaspersky, Doctor Web, etc.). Avoid dubious apps with a lot of permissions that are not related to their functions. Always read the reviews and privacy policy before installation.
How to distinguish a phishing SMS from a real bank message?
A real bank never asks you to follow a link in an SMS to enter your full card details, PIN code or online banking password. Phishing messages often contain links to suspicious domains (not official bank domains) and create a sense of urgency (“Your card will be blocked in 1 hour”). Never follow links from SMS, but go to the bank application directly.