SMS protection checks your text messages for scams. What happens next depends on the phone you have — iPhone and Android work differently, and the difference matters:
- On iPhone, Gini acts as a message filter. Suspicious texts from unknown senders are moved out of your main list into the Junk folder.
- On Android, Gini warns you about a scam text. The text stays in your normal Messages app; Gini sends you a notification telling you it looks dangerous.
Neither version deletes anything, and neither one touches messages from people in your contacts.
What Is SMS Spam?
SMS spam includes:
- Scam texts - Messages trying to trick you into clicking fake links or sharing personal information
- Phishing texts - Fake alerts claiming to be from your bank, delivery services, or government
- Promotional spam - Unwanted marketing messages
- Prize scams - "You've won!" messages that are really scams
These messages can be annoying at best and dangerous at worst.
How Gini Protects Your Texts
Step 1: Message Arrives
When you receive a text message, it goes through Gini's protection system before appearing in your inbox.
Step 2: AI Analysis
Gini's AI instantly analyzes the message for:
- Suspicious links - URLs that lead to fake websites or downloads
- Known scam patterns - Phrases and tactics used by scammers
- Urgent language - "Act immediately!" designed to make you panic
- Fake sender info - Numbers pretending to be banks, Amazon, etc.
- Requests for information - Asking for passwords, Social Security numbers, etc.
Step 3: Decision
| Result | On iPhone | On Android |
|---|---|---|
| Safe | Stays in your normal inbox | Stays in your normal inbox |
| Suspicious | Moved to the Junk folder in Messages | Stays put — Gini sends you a warning |
| Spam | Moved to the Junk folder in Messages | Stays put — Gini sends you a warning |
Step 4: You're Protected
- Nothing is ever deleted
- Every message Gini flags is listed in the app, so you can check what was caught
- On Android, you keep every message exactly where your phone put it — Gini only adds the warning
What Gets Caught
Delivery Scams
Fake messages claiming "Your package couldn't be delivered" with links to steal your information.
Bank Alerts
Fake messages pretending to be your bank, asking you to "verify" your account through a suspicious link.
Prize Notifications
"Congratulations! You've won $1,000!" messages that are always scams.
Account Warnings
Fake alerts about your Netflix, Amazon, or Apple account being "suspended."
IRS/Government Scams
Messages claiming to be from the IRS or Social Security Administration demanding immediate action.
What Passes Through
These messages go straight to your inbox:
- Messages from your contacts - People in your phone's contact list
- Verification codes - Login codes from websites and apps
- Legitimate alerts - Real messages from known services
- Normal conversations - Texts from friends and family
Your Held Messages Folder
When Gini catches a suspicious text, it goes to your "Held Messages" folder instead of your regular inbox. This keeps your main inbox clean while still letting you see what was caught.
You can:
- Review held messages - See what Gini caught
- Release a message - Move it to your regular inbox if it's legitimate
- Delete messages - Remove spam you don't want
- Block the sender - Stop future messages from that number
Privacy Protection
Gini takes your text message privacy seriously:
- No human reads your texts. Checking is automatic.
- We never sell or share your messages. Not to advertisers, not to anyone.
- Your messages stay yours. They remain in your own Messages app throughout.
- You're in control. You can turn text protection off at any time, and remove the permission from your phone's settings.
Supported Devices
SMS Protection works on:
| Device | Support |
|---|---|
| iPhone | Filters suspicious texts into Junk |
| Android | Warns you when a scam text arrives |
Setup is different on each — see the guide for your phone.
Limitations to Know
SMS Protection works great for most spam, but:
- It can't catch everything. Scammers change their wording constantly. Treat any text asking for a code, a password, or a payment as suspicious no matter what Gini says.
- It sometimes flags a real message. Short automated texts look a lot like the ones scammers send. Mark them as safe in the app.
- It needs to be set up on each phone. Protection covers the texts on the phone it is installed on.
- On Android, Gini warns — it does not block. A scam text still arrives; you get told about it.
Getting Started
Ready to protect your text messages? See:
- Setting Up SMS Protection on iPhone
- Setting Up SMS Protection on Android
Questions?
For more details, see:
- Understanding Held Messages
- How to Review Quarantined Texts
- Why Gini Did Not Block a Spam Text