How to Block Robocalls and Spam Calls

Are you sick and weary of receiving spam calls? The Federal Communications Commission has attempted to regulate such calls, and federal and state legislators have proposed legislation to address the issue. However, there are certain things you can do on your own. Blocking certain phone numbers is incorporated into Android and iPhone handsets, and cell carriers offer their own blocking solutions.

Hiya, RoboKiller, Truecaller, and Call Control are some of the third-party apps that function to limit telemarketing calls. You can also register your phone number with the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call Registry, albeit this will not prevent scammers and shady telemarketers from reaching you. Let’s take a look at each option.

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Block Particular Numbers on an iPhone

Robocallers cycle through tens of thousands of phone numbers, many of which have the same prefixes as your own. On your iPhone, open the Phone app and tap Recents to block them as they arrive. Choose Block this Caller and then Block Contact from the Info icon next to the number you want to block.

The phone number has been blocked. Because spammers have a habit of moving from one phone number to the next, this cure only works if the caller uses the same phone number multiple times.

Silence Unknown Callers in iOS 13 and Up

You can use a more effective but severe approach to stop spam calls if you have iOS 13 or higher installed on your iPhone. Turn on the switch for Silence Unknown Callers under Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers.

This feature mutes all calls from numbers not in your contact list. Calls go to voicemail and show up in your Recents lists so you can return them if they’re authentic.

Block Particular Numbers on Android

On an Android phone, the processes for banning numbers differ depending on the device and operating system version. You should be able to pick recent calls or call history when you open the Phone app. Find the command that says block and/or report as spam for the number you wish to block. Confirm the number’s blocking request.

Block All Unknown Callers on Android

You may also ban all unknown callers on some Android devices. While the procedure differs by device, you should normally launch the Phone app and navigate to the Settings menu. Locate the option for blocking numbers and turn it on. You can also enter phone numbers that you want to be blacklisted manually.

AT&T Name Defend

Customers with AT&T can go to a support page(Opens in a new window) to learn how to restrict calls on various types of phones. The company offers Call Protect, a fraud and spam call blocking app for iOS(Opens in a new window) and Android(Opens in a new window), as well as AT&T Secure Family, a family app for iOS(Opens in a new window) (Opens in a new window). AT&T Mobility consumers get the basic version of Call Protect for free, with the provider automatically enrolling new customers and adding it to existing ones. For $3.99 a month, AT&T offers Mobile Security(Opens in a new window), which includes enhanced Caller ID and Reverse Number Lookup tools.

Verizon Name Filter

Customers with compatible phones can use a free version of Verizon Wireless’ Call Filter service(Opens in a new window), but only on postpaid plans. The free version of the software identifies and filters spam calls. It warns you when an incoming call is probable spam, allows you to report unwanted numbers, filters out numbers with your first six digits, and blocks robocalls based on your risk level.

The commercial version of Call Filter adds Caller ID, a customized spam list, and additional features for $2.99 per line each month. The Call Filter app is available in the App Store for iPhone users (Opens in a new window). Your Android device should already have the app installed. If not, go to Google Play and get it.

T-Cell ScamShield

For postpaid T-Mobile and Metro subscribers, T-Mobile offers Scam Shield(Opens in a new window), a free blocking app. The software for iOS(Opens in a new window) and Android(Opens in a new window) can detect scam calls and block them from reaching you. An improved Caller ID feature gives you more information about a call so you can figure out if it’s spam. A real call is marked with a Number Verified tag, whilst a possible spam call is marked with a caution.

When you don’t want to provide your usual phone number, Scam Shield even provides you with an additional proxy phone number. If your regular phone number is being used for spam, you can change it once a year for free. The number of prohibited calls is kept in a spam counter.

Scam Shield Premium edition adds advanced capabilities such as voicemail-to-text, the ability to create a block list, and the ability to send specific sorts of calls straight to voicemail for $4 per month.

Nomorobo

is a third-party app that attempts to clamp down on robocalls and telemarketing calls by scanning a blocklist of identified cellphone numbers. The app can block a spam name and ship it to voicemail or enable it via and determine it as cellphone spam.

Nomorobo may also shield you in opposition to spam text messages, function as an advert blocker on the internet, and provide help to report a robocall or spam name. The service for cell prices $1.99 a month, although you’ll be able to take it for a spin by way of a free two-week trial. A free model for VoIP landlines can block robocalls on your property cellphone.

Hiya: Spam Cellphone Name Blocker

Hiya: Spam Phone Call Blocker(Opens in a new window) is a third-party software that alerts you about robocalls and scam calls based on a database of known scammers for iOS(Opens in a new window) and Android(Opens in a new window). Phone calls related to fraud and unlawful acts, as well as telemarketers, are addressed by the app.

Spoofed calls with the same first four numbers as your own number can be detected by Hiya. Hiya will expose the source of a phone number and notify you whether it’s a suspected spam number if you type it into the app. Additionally, the software may accept calls from any of your contacts automatically.

The basic version is available for free. A premium edition with a call screener and other features costs $3.99 per month or $24.99 per year after a seven-day trial.

RoboKiller

RoboKiller(Opens in a new window), an app for iOS(Opens in a new window) and Android(Opens in a new window), not only stops spam calls but also tries to annoy spammers. Answer Bots in the app will automatically respond to spam calls with prerecorded rubbish designed to frustrate and waste users time. You can even program your own responses for the bot.

The program comes with a database of known spammers, but you can also add specific phone numbers to be blacklisted. After a one-week free trial, the Android app costs $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year, while the iOS app costs $3.99 per month or $29.99 per year.

Truecaller

Truecaller(Opens in a new window) is a spam call and text message blocking app for iOS(Opens in a new window) and Android(Opens in a new window). Each incoming call is identified by the program, especially those from unknown numbers, so you know if it’s legitimate or not. It can prevent unsolicited calls automatically based on known spammers and numbers you manually add.

You may look up individual names and phone numbers to gain more information about them, and you can call friends and other contacts directly from the app. The basic app is available for free. For $4.49 per month or $29.99 per year, the Premium edition removes all advertisements and adds several more features.

Call Control

Call Control(Opens in a new window), which is available for iOS(Opens in a new window) and Android(Opens in a new window), uses crowdsourcing to help block spam calls. The app includes a tool called “CommunityIQ,” which searches through thousands of community reports and Do Not Call complaints to determine whether calls are spam. You can tell the app to reject calls from numbers that sound similar to your own, look up numbers to determine if they’re spammers, and even connect a compatible landline to extend spam protection at home.

Although the basic app is free, it lacks many of the essential functions. The CommunityIQ option and other features are included in a premium edition that costs $3.33 per month, $9.99 per quarter, or $29.99 per year and expires after the first seven days.

YouMail Voicemail & Spam Block

provides robocall blocking with visible voicemail, so you’ll be able to view any blocked requirements to which the caller left a message. After signing up for a free account, you then arrange YouMail as your default voicemail service for monitoring incoming calls and deciding which of them to permit and which of them to the dam.

There are paid variations obtainable as effectively. For $3.99 a month, a Plus plan cuts out the advertisements and kicks in a limitless measurement in your voicemail mailbox. For $10.99 a month, the Skilled plan provides a customized outbound greeting, as many as three digital numbers, and voicemail menus.

Spam Blocking on a Landline

Preventing robocalls and spam calls on a landline is more difficult than on a mobile phone without the use of mobile apps and other digital tools and services. You do, however, have some options. Check with your carrier to see if any anti-spam capabilities are available.

Some landline phones have call filtering technology built in (Opens in a new window). If your phone does not have this capability, you can purchase a call blocking device separately (Opens in a new window). You can also use the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry to register your phone number.

Do Not Name Record

While scammers will disregard the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry, registering your landline and mobile phone numbers at donotcall.gov can’t hurt (Opens in a new window). You can use the website to report nuisance calls, check if your phone number is on the Do Not Call Registry, and add your number if it isn’t.

Confirm Your Registration

Select Register Your Phone > Verify Here if you believe you have already registered with the Do Not Call Registry. Click Submit after entering your phone number and email address. To validate your phone number and email address, go to the next screen and click Verify. If your phone number has already been registered, you will receive an email. Look in your inbox for the message.

Register Your Cellphone Quantity

Select Register Your Phone > Register Here if you haven’t previously done so. Click Submit after entering your phone number and email address. After you’ve double-checked your information, click Register. You’ll then be directed to check your email for a message. To complete your registration, click the link in the message.

Report Undesirable Calls

The FTC can be contacted if you get any robocalls or scam calls. The agency can’t do anything about your individual complaint, but it can give you advice and collect information for its own fight against shady telemarketers.

Click Report Unwanted Calls from the DNC homepage. You’ll be prompted to fill out all of the relevant information regarding the phone call before submitting it. You can also report an unwanted call to the FTC by calling 1-888-382-1222.

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