Forbidden message categories for SMS/MMS in the U.S./Canada
Policy violation will lead to the suspension of SMS/MMS capability for your account.
Category | Examples | Notes |
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 |
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Debt collection or forgiveness |
| "Third-party" means originating from any party other than the one owed the debt. For example, a hospital could send messages regarding bills for its patients, assuming they opted-in to receive messaging. |
"Get rich quick" schemes |
| This differs from outreach about employment due to compliant opt-in practices, messages from brokerages to their members, investment news alerts, or other investment-related messages. |
Illegal substances |
| Cannabis is federally illegal in the United States. Cannabis businesses will not be permitted to use SMS/MMS messaging in the U.S., regardless of message content. CBD is federally legal but not in some U.S. states, so U.S. carriers do not permit messaging related to CBD. Offers for drugs that cannot be sold over the counter in the U.S./Canada are forbidden. |
Gambling |
| Gambling traffic is prohibited in the U.S. and Canada on all number types (Toll-Free, Short Code, and Long Code). |
"S. H.A.F.T." use cases |
| While Tobacco traffic is prohibited on Toll-Free, it is allowed on Short or Long Code, as long as proper age-gating procedures are in place. Alcohol traffic is allowed on Toll-Free (U.S. only), Short Code, and Long Code, as long as proper age-gating procedures are in place. Firearms and Vaping-related traffic are prohibited. |
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