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How to Get Paid for Each Spam Text From a Crypto Exchange

If you received a spam text from a crypto exchange you did not consent to, you may be entitled to $500 to $1,500 per message. This is thanks to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), a federal law designed to protect consumers from unwanted marketing communications. The crypto industry, known for its aggressive growth tactics, sometimes uses automated systems to send promotional texts about new coins, trading platforms, or NFT drops. If these unsolicited crypto texts were sent without your prior express written consent, the exchange has likely broken the law. This article explains your rights, how to identify a violation, and the steps you can take to hold these companies accountable and potentially receive compensation for each unwanted message.

The TCPA and Crypto Marketing Messages

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a powerful federal law that puts strict limits on how companies can contact you. For marketing text messages sent to a cell phone, the rule is very clear: a company must have your prior express written consent before sending you automated texts. This consent must be unambiguous, meaning you clearly agreed to receive promotional messages from that specific company. The fast-moving world of cryptocurrency often prioritizes rapid growth and user acquisition, leading some exchanges and related services to engage in aggressive marketing tactics that cross legal lines.

These crypto marketing messages might promote a new token, advertise low trading fees, or urge you to complete your account setup. However, if they are sent using an autodialer, which covers most modern mass texting platforms, they are illegal without your permission. The law does not care if the company is new or part of a decentralized network. If they are marketing to consumers in the United States, they must follow U.S. law. Many companies that have violated the TCPA have faced significant consequences, as detailed in our TCPA Settlement Tracker.

It is important to understand that having an account with an exchange does not automatically grant them permission to send you marketing texts. Consent for informational alerts, like security codes, is separate from consent for promotional content. The burden of proof is on the company to show they have a valid record of your consent. Without it, their messages are likely illegal spam, and you may have a claim for financial compensation.

What Counts as an Illegal Spam Text From a Crypto Exchange?

A text message from a cryptocurrency company becomes an illegal violation under several specific circumstances. The most common violation is the lack of prior express written consent. If you never signed up for messages, never checked a box on a form that clearly stated you agreed to receive marketing texts, or never otherwise gave explicit permission, any automated promotional text you receive is a potential violation. This applies even if you are a customer of the exchange for trading purposes.

Another clear violation occurs when a company continues to text you after you have opted out. Replying with the word "STOP" is a legally recognized way to revoke consent. The sender must honor this request within a reasonable time, which is generally considered to be no more than 10 business days. Any marketing text you receive from that number after that period is a new and separate violation of the TCPA.

Finally, the content of the message matters. The TCPA specifically targets marketing and promotional messages. While transactional texts like two-factor authentication codes are usually permissible, a text that encourages you to buy, sell, or trade a digital asset is almost always considered marketing. Therefore, a spam text from a crypto exchange advertising a new coin listing or a zero-fee promotion falls squarely under the TCPA's protective rules. This article is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.

How Much Money Can You Recover for Unsolicited Crypto Texts?

The TCPA provides for specific statutory damages, which means the law sets fixed financial penalties for violations. For each text message that violates the act, you could be entitled to recover $500. This amount is per violation, not per person or per complaint. If you received a series of ten illegal texts, that could represent a claim worth $5,000.

Furthermore, the law allows for damages to be tripled if the violations are found to be knowing or willful. This means if a company knew it was breaking the law, or recklessly disregarded the law, the compensation can increase to $1,500 per text message. An example of a willful violation would be an exchange continuing to send you crypto marketing messages after you replied "STOP" multiple times. Their failure to honor your opt-out request demonstrates a clear disregard for your rights under the law.

These penalties were established by Congress to be significant enough to deter companies from bombarding consumers with unwanted automated messages. The goal is not just to compensate you for the annoyance but also to hold companies financially accountable for their actions. If you're receiving spam, it is worth your time to document the evidence and see if you can file a claim for compensation.

Real Examples of Violations

Sometimes it helps to see what these illegal messages look like. The sending number might be a long phone number or a short code. Here are a few realistic examples of what a spam text from a crypto exchange might look like.

An unsolicited text sent to someone who never signed up for an account:

CryptoPros Alert: BTC is surging! Don't miss out on the next big move. Log in now to trade: [link] Reply STOP to end.

A message sent after a user has already opted out or closed their account:

Hi Sarah, your CoinVerse portfolio is waiting. We just listed the new SHIBAX coin! Trade now and get 0% fees for 24hrs. [link]

A misleading text designed to phish for engagement from a non-customer:

Final reminder from DigitalMint! Your verification is incomplete. Complete it now to get a $25 BTC bonus. [link] Txt HELP for help

How to Check Your Phone for Violations

Many people delete spam texts out of habit, but you might have evidence of TCPA violations sitting in your message history right now. The law has a four-year statute of limitations, so it's worth taking a few minutes to look. Start by opening the messaging app on your smartphone and using the search function. Search for keywords related to cryptocurrency, such as "crypto," "BTC," "ETH," "exchange," "trade," "portfolio," or the names of popular exchanges.

As you find potential spam texts, take clear screenshots of them. It's crucial that the screenshot captures the full message content, the phone number it came from, and the date and time it was received. For a detailed guide on this, you can read our instructions on how to take screenshots of spam texts on iPhones and Androids. Save these screenshots in a dedicated folder or album for easy access.

Next, perform another search in your messages for the word "STOP." Look for instances where you replied "STOP" to a sender, then check if that same sender sent you any marketing messages afterward. This is powerful evidence of a willful violation. Keep a simple log documenting the date of each message and the number that sent it. This organized evidence is exactly what you need to build a strong case.

Check Your Phone Right Now

You might be surprised what you find with a quick search of your text message history. Many illegal messages, similar to illegal texts from politicians and other businesses, are ignored or deleted every day. Take a moment to check for evidence.

Open your messages and search the word STOP.

This simple search can instantly reveal companies that ignored your request to be left alone. If you found any promotional messages that arrived after you told a sender to stop, those texts are strong evidence of a knowing and willful TCPA violation. Each one could be worth up to $1,500. Do not delete them. Instead, take screenshots and prepare to file a claim.

Submit screenshots at SpamClaims.com

Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I sue if a crypto exchange texts me after I closed my account?

Yes, you very likely have a strong case. When you close an account with any company, it is legally interpreted as a revocation of any consent you may have previously given them for communications. Any prior agreement to receive marketing texts becomes void the moment the business relationship is terminated. If a crypto exchange continues to send you promotional messages after you've closed your account, they are likely violating the TCPA. Each message sent after the account closure could qualify for $500 to $1,500 in statutory damages. Be sure to save any confirmation email or notice you have of the account closure, as it helps establish a clear timeline.

### What if the text is from an unknown number but mentions a known exchange?

This is a common scenario in what is known as affiliate marketing. A crypto exchange might hire third-party marketers to send texts on its behalf. Under the TCPA, the company that benefits from the marketing can be held liable for the violations, even if they did not send the text directly. This principle is known as vicarious liability. So, if you receive a text from a random number promoting a well-known exchange without your consent, that exchange may still be responsible. The key is that the message is for marketing and was sent without your prior express written consent. These are some of the most common types of TCPA cryptocurrency violations.

### How long do I have to file a claim for a crypto spam text?

The federal statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act is four years from the date of the violation. This means you can look back through your phone's message history for illegal texts received within the last four years. This generous timeframe allows consumers to gather evidence from a long period, potentially uncovering a pattern of harassment from a single company. Because many people do not realize these texts are illegal, they may have years of evidence saved on their devices. Do not wait until the deadline is approaching; it is always best to act sooner rather than later.

### Does it cost any money to file a TCPA claim?

No, it does not cost you anything upfront to file a claim. Attorneys who handle TCPA cases, including those on the SpamClaims platform, typically work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only get paid if they win the case or secure a settlement for you. Their fee is a percentage of the final amount recovered. If you do not win, you owe nothing. This model allows anyone to pursue a valid claim against a powerful company without having to worry about legal bills. It ensures that your ability to enforce your rights is not dependent on your ability to pay a lawyer out of pocket.

TLDR

Submit your spam screenshots for attorney review

This article is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney-client relationship.