Forbidden message categories for SMS/MMS in the U.S./Canada
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.
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