When you report a conversation as spam, you also block the sender and move the message to your "Spam & blocked" folder. Google employees and contractors may also review your spam information to help improve Google’s spam and abuse protection for Google Messages and Google’s other products and services. Reported conversations are also used to train AI models to improve spam and abuse protection.
When you report spam:
- The spammer’s phone number is reported to Google.
- Google gets a copy of the last 10 incoming messages from the spammer so we can improve spam detection. In a group conversation, this can include messages from users other than the spammer:
- Each reported message includes the sender’s phone number and a timestamp of the message.
- Each reported message sent with Rich Communication Services (RCS) includes an identifying RCS Message ID.
- Each reported RCS group conversation includes an RCS Group ID.
- Each reported message includes the name of the group of conversation.
- Each reported message includes the profile names and phone numbers of all remote users in the conversation except the user who sent the report.
- Your country code based on SIM card and IP is reported to Google.
- Your past replies to the spammer aren't sent to Google.
- Your name and phone number aren't linked to the spammer’s messages.
- The spammer can’t view your report and won’t know about it.
Your report might create a separate “Spam reporting” conversation. This will send a copy of the spammer’s number plus the most recent text message to your mobile carrier. These conversations may automatically go to the “Spam & blocked" folder.
Sending spam reports is optional. You can also block a phone number and don't have to report it to Google. Learn more about spam protection and how to block or unblock a number.
When Google Messages detects a message as spam, that message can be dropped and senders can be suspended if found to violate the Google Terms of Service.
Important: If your Google Messages for web syncs with Google Fi, use the Android instructions.
Block & report a conversation
- On your computer, open Google Messages for web.
- Next to the person you want to block, click More options
Block & report spam
Unblock a conversation
- On your computer, open Google Messages for web.
- In the conversation list, click More options
- Find the contact in the list and select Unblock
When you remove a spam report
To improve spam classification quality, Google receives information about removed spam flag:
- Each reported message sent with Rich Communication Services (RCS) includes an identifying RCS Message ID.
- Each reported RCS group conversation includes an RCS Group ID.
- The content of the message isn't shared with Google.