This might not have been the original meaning but it’s perfect for today’s onslaught of unwanted texts, clogging up mobile phones.

And sadly, in many cases the convention ‘just text STOP’ is damaging, not helpful.

Spam texts blight our handsets with unwanted adverts, often from dodgy companies such as ambulance- chasing personal injury firms or payment protection insurance claims handlers, such as this one sent to a member of my team who’s never had PPI: “Free Message: Important! Our records indicate you may be entitled to £3,750 from mis-sold insurance. To claim, reply Yes.”

What was once a trickle has now become a deluge; I asked more than 4,000 users of my website and 95 per cent have received spam texts in the last six months. If you get them, here’s what to do.

Get it in conTEXT

There are three different types of unwanted marketing texts. It’s important to understand which you’ve got, so you can work out how to deal with it.

Unwanted marketing texts

While annoying, these are legal and often pop up after you’ve bought or ordered goods.

In most cases, it’s because you’ve either forgotten or didn’t realise you had to opt out of marketing on their website or forms. So they can legitimately pass on your details to third parties.

How to spot ’em: they’re usually from normal mobile numbers and if legit should include the sender’s company name and contact details.

How to stop ’em: once you’re sure it’s not a spam text (see below), opt out by simply replying STOP.

This should be enough but if not, call the company direct and ask it to stop.

If it still won’t play ball, contact the Information Commissioner’s Office on 030 3123 1113 or via ico.gov.uk.

Premium texts

These land in your inbox and, worse, charge you to receive them.

In most cases, phone owners are unaware they’ve unwittingly signed up for the service, often from a ringtone, music or weather/news update service.

Act swiftly, since your bill can quickly run into £100s.

How to spot ’em: these are usually easily spotted as rather than a normal phone number, they come from four-, five- or six-digit mobile numbers.

How to stop ’em:

again simply text STOP or STOP ALL to kill ’em off.

But if they keep creeping in, call your network, who’ll kibosh them.

Get your money back: You can even go after them for money back if you didn’t subscribe.

Note down the number and contact the regulator on 0800 500 212 or via its website phonepayplus.org.uk.

You’ll need hard proof, though, that you didn’t sign up.

The real spam texts

This is pure unadulterated, unsolicited spam whose peddlers tend to be ‘ambulance chasers’ hunting business if you’ve suffered a personal accident, payday loan firms, debtwrite- off operators, tax rebate claims and claimshandlers sniffing out payment protection insurance (PPI) victims.

How to spot ’em: it’ll be from a normal 11-digit mobile phone number, but this time DON’T text stop!

Any reply is a bite on the end of their phishing line, showing your number’s active, so could readily be sold on to other firms and sent even more junk texts.

These companies can be based abroad, so outside UK jurisdiction, which makes doing anything difficult.

How to stop ’em: here, you’ve two options.

Frankly, they won’t stop all spam to you – but if we all do it, it should mean the less likely we all are to get spammed in the future.

1) Report it to your network provider.

The big networks have simple methods to help:

O2: Forward message to 7726.

Vodafone: Forward message to 87726.

Orange: Forward message to 7726.

T-Mobile: Report to customer services.

Three: Report to contact centre.

2) Report it to the Information Commissioner (ICO).

It can hit the company with a fine of up to £500,000 if there’s a serious breach of regulations governing spam texts. Contact the ICO on 0303 123 1113 or via its website on ico.gov.uk.

Prevention is better than cure Stopping unwanted texts isn’t easy – so it’s important to act in such a way that you minimise them in the first place. These tips should help:

Never reply. Don’t reply to any sort of spam message. Do this and you’re confirming your number’s active to the company behind it, leaving your phone at the mercy of more.

Be careful who you give your number to.

When filling in surveys or marketing material, don’t give your mobile number unless you absolutely have to.

Don’t list your mobile number online.

Not on Facebook, Twitter, chat forums or even on pages you think are private – all can end up with someone grabbing them.

Always check privacy policies and opt-outs.

Read the small print and follow the instructions to stop them contacting you.

Curb cold-callers, junk mailers and more Texts are only one form of spam attack. Here’s how to protect yourself from the other types of junk:

STOP cold-callers.

Rules introduced last year stop energy sales cold-callers from knocking on your door as long as you simply put up a clear ‘No Cold Calling’ sign. Print one off for free at moneysavingexpert.com/coldcallers

STOP unsolicited phone calls.

Any UK company that makes unsolicited calls to you once you’re registered with the Telephone Preference Service (via tpsonline.org.uk or calling 0800 398 893) is breaking the law.

STOP addressed junk mail.

Unlike phone calls, you’ve no legal right to bar junk mail. Yet most UK marketers agree not to send letters if you register with the Mail Preference Service at mpsonline.org.uk or call 0845 703 4599 (for faxes it’s fpsonline.org.uk).

STOP unaddressed junk mail.

To put an end to unaddressed flyers, leaflets, promos and brochures delivered by Royal Mail, e-mail optout@royalmail.com to get a form or write to Freepost RRBTZBXB- TTTS, Royal Mail Door-todoor Opt Out, Kingsmead House, Oxford, OX1 1RX.

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