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

  • Payday loans

  • Short-term high-interest loans

  • Third-party auto loans

  • Third-party mortgage loans

  • Student loans

  • Cryptocurrency

"Third-party" means originating from any party other than the one which will service the loan.

Third-party lead generation services

  • Companies that buy, sell, or share consumer information.

Debt collection or forgiveness

  • Third-party debt collection

  • Debt consolidation

  • Debt reduction

  • Credit repair programs

"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

  • Work-from-home programs

  • Risk investment opportunities

  • Pyramid 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 (United States)

  • CBD (United States)

  • Prescription drugs

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

  • Casino apps

  • Gambling websites

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

  • Sex

  • Hate

  • Alcohol

  • Firearms

  • Tobacco

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.

Last updated