Apple Support Document Unveils iMessage Spam Reporting Tool

A new support document has emerged on Apple's website today, revealing a way for iMessage users to report unwanted messages, or spam, directly to Apple.

To report unwanted iMessage messages to Apple, please send an email with the following details to: imessage.spam@icloud.com

Include a screenshot of the message you have received.
Include the full email address or phone number you received the unwanted message from.
Include the date and time that you received the message.

In late March it was reported that a group of iOS developers had been hit with denial-of-service attacks via iMessage that saw them receiving a series of rapid-fire messages. Previously, it was not possible for users to take action against possible spam attacks. Now users can alert Apple to any possible problems directly.

imessage_ipad_mac_iphone
Similarly, users with iOS 7 wanting to fight potential spam will have the ability to block contacts in the Messages, Phone and FaceTime apps, but users with previous versions of iOS will not be able to use that feature.

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 With Apple's Own 5G Modem 'Confirmed' to Launch in March

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:12 pm PST by
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues recently traveled to Asia to meet with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers. In a research note this week, outlining key takeaways from the trip, the analysts said they have "confirmed" that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is slated to launch towards the end of the first quarter next year. In line with previo...
airtag purple

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year With These New Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
Magic Mouse Next to Keyboard

No, Apple CEO Tim Cook Didn't Say He Prefers Logitech's MX Master 3 Over the Magic Mouse

Sunday November 17, 2024 3:03 pm PST by
While the Logitech MX Master 3 is a terrific mouse for the Mac, reports claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers that mouse over the Magic Mouse are false. The Wall Street Journal last month published an interview with Cook, in which he said he uses every Apple product every day. Soon after, The Verge's Wes Davis attempted to replicate using every Apple product in a single day. During that...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Releases iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 With Security Fixes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 come three weeks after the launch of iOS 18.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 17.7.2 for...
at t turbo indicator iphone 16 pro max v0 8hrh7w5f3w1e1

AT&T Turbo Indicator Showing Up in iPhone Status Bar for Subscribers

Wednesday November 20, 2024 3:42 am PST by
AT&T has begun displaying "Turbo" in the iPhone carrier label for customers subscribed to its premium network prioritization service, according to reports on Reddit. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, but that could be just coincidence. Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476 The Turbo feature provides enhanced network performance through ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Surpass iPhone 6 as Thinnest iPhone Ever

Monday November 18, 2024 1:07 pm PST by
In a research note with Hong Kong-based investment bank Haitong today, obtained by MacRumors, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said he agrees with a recent rumor claiming that the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" will be around 6mm thick. "We agreed with the recent chatter of an 6mm thickness ultra-slim design of the iPhone 17 Slim model," he wrote. If that measurement proves to be accurate, there would be ...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Make Sure to Update: iOS 18.1.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerabilities

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:52 am PST by
The iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates that Apple released today address JavaScriptCore and WebKit vulnerabilities that Apple says have been actively exploited on some devices. With the JavaScriptCore vulnerability, processing maliciously crafted web content could lead to arbitrary code execution. The WebKit vulnerability had the same issue with maliciously crafted...

Top Rated Comments

kimble3 Avatar
148 months ago
Really?

I guess it's nice but is it just me or is this kind of a half-assed solution? Take a screenshot and send an email? Why not just put a button or menu entry in Messages to report it directly. It just seems overly complicated...
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
haruhiko Avatar
148 months ago
In the long term this should be incorporated into the Messages app. In the current form it's more like a punishment to the victim by requiring them to draft a whole e-mail containing all the details, the screenshot, date and time, etc. etc.

I don't know how did the spammer get my contact details but somehow they managed to send several spam messages to me asking me to download a Chinese iOS game.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JoshGlzBrk Avatar
148 months ago
This will be useful. I'm excited for the blocking abilities in iOS7 too.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HiRez Avatar
148 months ago
Let's be honest, if we discovered Microsoft or Google asking users to use this method, we'd be shaking our heads and making fun of them right now.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mike MA Avatar
148 months ago
Sending a Mail for notice is not exactly a dedicated reporting tool, is it?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iDuel Avatar
148 months ago
It's better than nothing, but there should just be a "Report Spam" button somewhere which automates the whole process.

Maybe Apple is working on such a system and is using the email method as a placeholder.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)