SMS emerges as a pivotal tool for engaging customers. The rising prevalence of SMS has, however, led to an increase in both spammers and businesses exploring areas not endorsed by major wireless carriers. Given the strict regulations overseeing SMS traffic, specific business categories may discover themselves excluded from the support
structure offered by wireless carriers.
Businesses categorized as unsupported may typically encounter constraints such as age restrictions or the absence of federal approval. If your business falls within any of these categories, regrettably, SMS might not be the suitable channel for your ongoing activities. It's crucial to be aware that, in such cases, there is a possibility of your account being closed
Forbidden Message Categories for SMS/MMS
| Category | Examples | Notes |
| Illegal substances |
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| High-risk financial services |
| “Third-party” means originating from any party other than the one which will service the loan. |
| Third-party lead generation services |
| |
| “Get rich quick” schemes |
| This varies from outreach related to employment resulting from compliant opt-in practices, messages sent by brokerages to their members, alerts about investment news, or other messages pertaining to investments. |
| Gambling |
| Gambling traffic is prohibited in the US and Canada on all number types (Toll-Free, Mobile Numbers). |
| "S.H.A.F.T." use cases |
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| Debt collection or forgiveness |
| “Third-party” means originating from any party other than the one who is owed the debt. For example, a hospital could send messages regarding bills for its own patients, assuming they provided opt-in to receive that message. |
Not sure if your use case is allowed?
Contact us and one our our messaging specialist can help determine if the carriers will accept your use case/