Forbidden Messaging Content
Some types of messaging are not allowed on our platform due to carrier restrictions and industry regulations. Below are the major categories that are prohibited:
| Category | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High-Risk Financial Services | Payday loans, short-term/high-interest loans, third-party or student loans, cryptocurrency, stocks | Only 2FA/transactional messages allowed for crypto and stock companies. First-party loan messaging must be non-promotional and on Short Code. |
| Third-Party Lead Gen & Marketing | Affiliate marketing/lending, data resale, deceptive marketing | Must have direct opt-in from users. Voter databases and shared data sources are not compliant. |
| Debt Collection or Forgiveness | Third-party debt collection, debt relief, consolidation, credit repair | First-party collections may be allowed with direct consent. All debt reduction/repair services are prohibited. |
| Illegal Substances/Articles | Cannabis, CBD, Kratom, paraphernalia, vapes, fireworks | Fully banned regardless of state legality or message type — includes 2FA and transactional messages. |
| Prescription Drugs | Any medication requiring a prescription | Offers for drugs that cannot be sold over-the-counter in the US/Canada are forbidden regardless if the business is a licensed professional. |
| Gambling | Casino apps, sports betting, sweepstakes, raffles, 50/50 | All gambling traffic is prohibited. Bingo may be allowed on Short Code or for community purposes. |
| S.H.A.F.T. + Vapes/E-cigs | Sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco, vapes/e-cigs |
- Alcohol: Allowed with age gating (DOB entry required) - Tobacco: Only allowed on Short Code with age gating - Firearms, Vapes, E-cigs: Not allowed at all - Canada: All age-gated content is blocked without a carrier exemption |
| Academic Fraud | Essay Mills, Exam taking services, Ghostwriting, Sale of unauthorized test materials |
Messaging related to academic fraud or dishonesty is strictly prohibited on any number type. Messages intended to help students bypass academic requirements or engage in plagiarism are forbidden. Please note that this does not include legitimate educational services such as tutoring, test preparation software, or licensed career counseling, provided they do not facilitate academic dishonesty. |
| Phishing | Social engineering scams, Deceptive "Account Alert" or "Security Warning" messages, personation of government agencies (IRS, SSA, USPS, CRA, CPS) or financial institutions (banks, credit card companies), Fake delivery notifications |
Phishing is strictly prohibited across all number types. This includes any message intended to deceive a recipient into providing sensitive information or clicking a malicious link. Messages impersonating well-known brands, banks, or government entities to solicit private data are flagged immediately. Any use of "look-alike" domains or obfuscated URLs to hide the destination of a link is considered a violation of the Anti-Spam and Phishing policies. |
| “Get rich quick” schemes | Deceptive work-from-home programs, Risk investment opportunities, Pyramid schemes, Mystery Shopping | These categories in the telecoms industry produce high consumer complaints and are not permissible on carrier routes. |