Responding to the text message can allow malware to be installed that will silently collect personal information from your phone. If they dont use your information themselves, the spammers may sell it to marketers or other identity thieves. You might end up with unwanted charges on your cell phone bill.

What happens if you respond to a spam text?

Directly replying to a spam text message lets a spammer know that your number is genuine. What happens next? They can sell your phone number to other spammers who might bombard you with promises of free gifts and product offers.

Why am I getting texts from email addresses?

Its called spam its coming to you as an SMS message through your cellular carriers email to text gateway. If you do not need to receive SMS messages from email accounts (some automated alerting systems may use this method), then contact your carrier and ask them to disable that at their gateway.