What Content Cannot Be Sent?
During Toll-Free Verification, US carriers have strict prohibitions on certain industries and content types. If your business involves the following areas, your verification application will be directly rejected, and corrections will not lead to approval.
Tip: Even if your product is legal locally in the US (e.g., cannabis, vape), if it falls under a carrier-prohibited category, you still cannot use TF numbers to send SMS. It is recommended to self-check against this list before submitting for verification.
Strictly Prohibited Industries & Content
Category | Specific Examples | Notes |
Illegal Substances | Cannabis, CBD, Vape/E-cigarettes | Carriers prohibit such SMS regardless of local legality in the US. |
High-Risk Finance | Cryptocurrency, Stock tips, Payday loans | Marketing content involving investment advice or high-interest lending. |
Adult Content | Pornography, Dating apps, Hate speech | Any content involving sensitive items in SHAFT (Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco). |
Fraud & Phishing | Impersonating banks, Fake winnings, Stealing PII | Any attempt to deceive users into clicking links or providing private information. |
Third-Party Debt | Debt collection, Credit repair | Sending collection SMS is prohibited unless you are the original creditor. |
⚠️ Gray Areas Requiring Special Attention
- Alcohol: Allowed only with strict age verification mechanisms (Age Gate).
- Prescription Drugs: Marketing promotions are prohibited; only transactional notifications like order status are allowed.
- Gambling: Most gambling-related SMS is prohibited except in a few regulated jurisdictions.
How to Self-Check?
Before submitting for verification, please check your website products and message samples:
- Does our product belong to any of the above prohibited industries?
- Do our SMS copies contain sensitive words like "guaranteed profit" or "get rich quick"?
- Are we using public shorteners (e.g., bit.ly)? (Branded domain links are recommended.)
Tip: If you are unsure whether your business is compliant, it is recommended to first refer to the compliant examples in the Message Sample Writing Guide or contact Textr Team customer service for consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can vape products be verified for Toll-Free? +
No. Vape/E-cigarettes fall under the explicitly prohibited SHAFT category (Tobacco/Vape). Regardless of whether your product complies with FDA regulations or is legally sold in specific states, all major carriers prohibit sending any vape-related SMS via Toll-Free numbers, including order notifications and marketing content.
Q2: Are financial loan messages allowed? +
It depends. Transactional notifications like order confirmations and repayment reminders sent by yourself as the original creditor are generally allowed. In this case, the carrier might require further documentation for verification, and the approval process is very strict. However, third-party loan brokers, payday loans, debt restructuring, credit repair, or cryptocurrency investment promotions are strictly prohibited. Reviewers will specifically examine whether your Business Name and Use Case Summary are associated with financially sensitive terms.
Q3: What is SHAFT content? +
SHAFT is an industry acronym for five high-risk content categories: Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco. Among these, Alcohol may be permitted with strict age verification, but the other four are prohibited from being sent via TF numbers under any circumstances. If your website or products involve these keywords, verification will almost certainly be rejected.
