Restricted Messages

Compliance and Restricted Messaging Guidelines

The following messaging use cases are strictly prohibited on SMS and MMS platforms in the United States and Canada. These guidelines apply to Short Code, Toll-Free, and Long Code messaging under the A2P 10DLC system. Compliance with these regulations ensures that our messaging services remain operational and meet carrier requirements.

Restricted and Forbidden Messaging

Certain types of messages are strictly prohibited to maintain a safe and compliant messaging environment. These restrictions apply to both the content of the message and the nature of the business itself. Even if a specific use case is not listed, some message content may still be subject to restrictions.

Commercial and Promotional Messages

RedFlag is a communication platform designed to alert and update associates in important situations. Per FCC laws (TCPA and CAN-SPAM), RedFlag cannot be used for sending commercial messages. A commercial message is one that primarily promotes a product or service.

Written consent is required for commercial messages.
Non-commercial consent may be given verbally, after which contacts may be uploaded to RedFlag for non-commercial messaging.

S.H.A.F.T. Restricted Content

The following categories are restricted under SMS/MMS guidelines:

Sexual Content
Hate Speech
Alcohol
Firearms
Tobacco
Vape/E-Cigarettes

Alcohol: Allowed on Toll-Free, Short Code, and Long Code in the U.S. with proper age gating (requiring users to enter their birthdate, not just a yes/no question).

Firearms, Vape, and E-Cigarettes: Prohibited on all messaging platforms.

Tobacco: Allowed on Short Code with age gating but prohibited on Long Code and Toll-Free numbers.

Canada: All age-gated content must be blocked unless a special carrier exemption is granted.

High-Risk Financial Services

The following financial services are prohibited:

Payday loans
Short-term high-interest loans
Third-party loans (auto, mortgage, personal, student, etc.)
Cryptocurrency promotions
Stock and investment platforms (except 2FA and transactional messages)

Third-Party Lead Generation and Marketing

Prohibited activities include:

Selling or sharing consumer information
Affiliate marketing and lending
Deceptive marketing
Using voter registration databases for SMS outreach

Debt Collection and Forgiveness

Third-party debt collection is prohibited.
Debt consolidation, reduction, and credit repair programs are not allowed.

“Get Rich Quick” Schemes

Prohibited messaging includes:

Deceptive work-from-home offers
Risk investment opportunities
Pyramid schemes
Mystery shopping scams

Illegal Substances and Articles

The following are not allowed in any SMS/MMS messaging:

Cannabis and CBD (regardless of federal/state legality)
Kratom
Drug paraphernalia
Fireworks

Prescription Drugs

Messages promoting prescription drugs or any drug requiring a prescription are prohibited.

Gambling and Betting

Casino apps, gambling websites, sweepstakes, and betting services are prohibited.
Bingo-related messages may be allowed on approved Short Codes.

WAF (Web Application Firewall) and Message Blocking

WAF is a security feature designed to protect against malicious traffic, spam, and potential threats. If a message is blocked by the WAF, it indicates that security filters flagged the content as potentially harmful or unauthorized.

Common reasons for message blocking:
Use of suspicious keywords or phrases resembling spam or phishing attempts
High-frequency sending patterns that resemble bot activity
Content containing restricted or sensitive information

If your messages are blocked due to WAF, we recommend reviewing the content for restricted terms and adjusting the wording. If issues persist, please contact support for further investigation.

Compliance and Consequences

Failure to comply with these messaging guidelines can result in:

Message blocking by carriers
Temporary or permanent suspension of messaging services
Legal and financial penalties

We encourage all users to adhere to these policies to ensure uninterrupted service. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please reach out to our support team.