How to Escape from Message Bombing

Block the phone number to cut off contact. You can resolve this issue quickly by hitting the block button. They’ve crossed the line, and you have every right to do so! Just press the button, and the messages from the nuisance sender will disappear. This is a solid solution because they won’t even realize they’ve been blocked.

• The process of blocking someone may vary slightly depending on your phone. You can refer to articles on how to block numbers on Apple and Android devices.
• If you can’t block the number directly on your phone, you can use a third-party app like Mr. Number.

If you ignore them, hopefully they’ll get the hint. Silence can be a powerful message. Often, the sender will wait for your response, hoping to hear back from you. If you don’t reply, they might realize that sending thousands more messages won’t make a difference.

• If you’re worried that ignoring their messages might seem rude, you can come up with an excuse, like pretending you lost your phone and couldn’t respond to their texts.
• Use custom message tones to identify who’s texting you. In your phone’s settings or personal contact settings, you can assign unique tones to specific people. When you hear the tone, you can decide whether to respond or not.

A message explaining that you’re busy might stop them from bothering you further. Maybe you’re swamped with work or in the middle of moving. Whatever the reason, you’re too occupied to respond to their messages. Set your boundaries. When they text you nonstop, reply like this:

• “Hey, I’m really busy right now and can’t text back. I don’t want to be distracted. I’ll message you when I’m free!”
• “I need to focus on work, so please stop texting me. I’ll call you later.”

Come up with a reason why you can’t reply to messages. Are you at work? Is your phone broken? We all tell little lies sometimes, and making up an excuse to avoid replying to someone’s messages can be a polite way to decline. When crafting an excuse, make sure it fits the situation. Here are some suggestions:

• “My parents are pretty strict, so I can’t always use my phone to text.”
• “I’ve run out of data on my phone. I’ll text you later!”
• “My boss warned me again about using my phone at work. I’ll text you during my break. I’ve been so busy lately.”

A fake error message will make them think you no longer use that phone number. Service errors do happen, but sometimes you need to pretend to get someone to stop texting you. Just compose a normal message with the following content:

• “SMS: SERVICE ERROR 305: Message failed to send.”
• If they reply to that message, you can continue sending them error messages or act as if you didn’t receive their texts.

Clearly tell them you want them to stop texting you. How you phrase it depends on who the person is. Is it an admirer, a friend, or a family member? You need to explain clearly so they understand you want them to stop texting you. Here are some examples based on who’s texting you:

• To an admirer who won’t leave you alone: “I appreciate that you take the time to text me every day, but please stop. I don’t have time for relationships like this right now” or “STOP TEXTING ME.”
• To a friend who texts you nonstop: “I enjoy talking to you, but please don’t text me all day like this” or “I’m really busy right now and don’t have time to reply to your messages. Don’t text me every day.”
• When the texter is a family member: “Please stop texting me. I have a lot to do” or “Don’t text me anymore. I’ll reach out when I have time.”
• When it’s an ex: “I need some space right now, so please stop texting me” or “Why are you texting me so much? Please respect my space and stop messaging me.”

If you block their number, they might use another one to text you. If the harassment continues, the only solution might be to cut off all contact by changing your phone number. All you need to do is purchase a new SIM card.

• If you’re unsure how to replace your SIM, you can look it up online or ask for assistance at a phone store.

Your safety is the top priority. If the messages escalate from annoying to threatening, you should report it to the police. No one has the right to invade your privacy, especially after you’ve asked them to stop. Protect yourself legally. You can visit the police station and file a complaint about the harassment, and they will help you resolve the issue.

• When you file a report, the police will investigate whether the texter is guilty of harassment, abuse, or stalking.
• Take screenshots of the messages as evidence of harassment, and gather as much proof as possible. Save everything—even things you think are unimportant. A single message could determine whether the harasser faces consequences.
• When you request a protection order, the authorities can impose restrictions or issue a no-contact order against the harasser. After submitting this request, if the person continues to harass you, they will face legal consequences.