Unsolicited spam calls are a huge annoyance for many people. The constant barrage of robocalls and telemarketers trying to sell products or scam people out of money can make answering the phone a dreadful experience. Thankfully, there are some effective strategies you can use to reduce or even eliminate spam calls for good.
Why am I getting so many spam calls?
There are a few key reasons spam calls have exploded in recent years:
- Cheap autodialing technology makes it easy and inexpensive for scammers to make millions of calls per day.
- Caller ID spoofing allows spammers to hide their true numbers and use local area codes to seem more legitimate.
- Your personal information is bought and sold on shady data broker websites, leading to more unsolicited calls.
- Robocalls are very low effort and profitable for scammers, even if only a tiny percentage of people fall for their tricks.
In short, spam calls have become a massive business fueled by cheap technology and access to our personal contact information. But fortunately, consumers aren’t powerless against these nuisance calls.
Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry is a government-run opt-out list that prohibits sales calls from legitimate telemarketers. You can register your phone numbers for free at www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. Telemarketers are required to stop calling numbers on the registry.
Here’s how it works:
- Add your home and mobile numbers to the list for free.
- Your numbers will show up on the registry 31 days later.
- Most telemarketers will be blocked from calling once registered.
- Numbers stay on the list permanently unless you remove them.
The Do Not Call list is very effective at stopping sales calls from legitimate businesses. However, illegal robocallers often ignore the list, so additional steps are needed to stop all spam calls.
Request numbers be removed from call lists
When you receive a live call from a real person, request firmly that your number be placed on their company’s internal do not call list. Telemarketers are required by law to honor these requests.
Say something like “I would like to speak with a supervisor to be added to your do not call list.” Be sure to note the company name and any other details before hanging up.
If the calls continue after requesting to be added to their internal list, you can file complaints with organizations like the FTC and FCC who oversee telephony regulations.
Use call blocking tools
There are many call blocking apps and services that can help filter out unwanted calls automatically:
- Nomorobo – Blocks robocalls using algorithms and a cloud blacklist database. Works on landlines and mobile.
- Hiya – Identifies spam callers and allows you to easily block numbers. Also works for incoming SMS spam.
- RoboKiller – Answers scam robocalls with pre-recorded spam call “traps” to waste their time.
- Truecaller – Crowdsourced caller ID identifies telemarketers and robocalls. Block calls with a single click.
- Mr. Number – Blocks unwanted calls and texts. Alerts you to nearby spam callers detected by its community.
These apps typically charge a small monthly or annual fee, but can be very effective at reducing spam calls automatically without any effort on your end.
Ask carriers for help
Wireless providers are taking steps to combat spam calls on their networks. AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and others now offer enhanced caller ID and filtering options to identify scam calls:
| Carrier | Spam Protection Feature |
|---|---|
| Verizon | Call Filter app identifies spam and robocalls |
| T-Mobile | Scam ID warns of likely scam calls |
| AT&T | Call Protect automatically blocks fraud calls |
You can typically enable these services by downloading your carrier’s app or visiting account management settings online. While not 100% foolproof, they add another useful layer of defense against spam calls.
Block calls on your smartphone
Both iPhones and Android phones allow you to block specific numbers to prevent unwanted calls. Here’s how to block calls on each device:
iPhone Call Blocking
- Open Phone app > Recents tab
- Tap the (i) icon next to a number
- Select Block this Caller
- Confirm by tapping Block Contact
Blocked callers will be sent straight to voicemail. You can also block contacts directly from your Contacts app.
Android Call Blocking
- Open Phone app > Recent calls
- Tap the number
- Tap Block/report spam
- Confirm by tapping Block
On Android, you can block numbers or filter calls from private and unknown numbers entirely.
Avoid answering calls from unknown numbers
One of the best ways to avoid spam calls is simply to not answer calls from phone numbers you don’t recognize. Let unknown callers go to voicemail so you can screen them.
Robocalls typically won’t leave messages. If it’s important, the caller will leave details you can review before deciding whether to call back or not.
You can also set your smartphone to mute unknown callers so the calls don’t disturb you. And be sure to keep your contacts app updated with names of known contacts to help better identify who’s calling.
Register on the FTC’s Do Not Call list
In addition to the National Do Not Call Registry, you can sign up for the Federal Trade Commission’s Do Not Call list at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.
This registers your number with both the FTC and FCC to prohibit unwanted sales calls per federal law. Be sure to specify both your landline and mobile numbers when signing up.
File complaints about violators
If all else fails and you still receive illegal spam calls after registering on Do Not Call lists, take action by filing complaints with regulators:
- FTC Complaint Assistant – Report violations of telemarketing sales rules.
- FCC Complaints – File complaints about robocalls and TCPA violations.
- CFPB Complaint Database – Submit complaints about financial scams by phone.
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov – File complaints about frauds and scams by phone.
Provide as many details as possible including company names, dates and times of calls, and phone numbers that called you. The more complaints these agencies receive, the more pressure they can apply to violators.
Ask to be added to entity-specific Do Not Call lists
In addition to the national registries, many individual companies and organizations maintain their own Do Not Call lists. When you receive an unwanted call, request to be added to their list to stop future calls.
Here are some examples of entity-specific Do Not Call lists to sign up for:
- AARP Do Not Call List
- American Express Do Not Call
- Comcast Do Not Call List
- DIRECTV Do Not Call List
- DISH Network Do Not Call
- Geico Do Not Call
Even if these companies are not currently calling you, it’s wise to register with any you do business with in case they sell your number later on.
Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers
One simple yet effective technique is to simply not answer calls from phone numbers you don’t recognize. Let unknown callers go to voicemail so you can screen them.
Legitimate callers will leave a message explaining what they want. Robocallers and telemarketers typically won’t. This allows you to avoid unwanted sales pitches and scam calls.
With this approach, be sure to regularly listen to voicemails and return calls to people you know. Check area codes of missed calls to identify potential spam. Over time, you’ll get very good at screening out the bad calls.
Use call blocking features from your phone carrier
Major phone carriers offer built-in call protection features that identify and block robocalls and spam calls using advanced analytics and constantly updated block lists:
| Carrier | Call Blocking Feature |
|---|---|
| Verizon | Call Filter app blocks spam calls automatically |
| AT&T | AT&T Call Protect blocks fraud calls for free |
| T-Mobile | Scam ID feature warns of likely scam calls |
Check with your phone carrier to see if they offer any built-in call protection products. Enable them on your mobile and home landline to get broad protection.
Use a call screening device or app
Call screening tools answer calls on your behalf and require callers to identify themselves before putting them through to you. This weeds out any spam calls and alerts you if a robocall tries to reach you.
For landlines, devices like the CPR Call Blocker send callers to an automated screening system. Mobile call screening apps like YouMail transcribe voicemails from callers to help identify spam.
Never answer calls from unknown numbers
The simplest way to stop spam calls is to avoid answering any call from a phone number you don’t recognize. This eliminates the risk of accidentally answering a robocall or engaging with a phone scammer.
For important calls from real people, they’ll leave a voicemail that you can listen to and return the call later if needed. No personalized message is a sign of a spam caller.
You can also set your smartphone contacts to only accept calls from persons in your contacts list. All other incoming calls will go straight to voicemail.
Conclusion
Getting repeated spam calls can be extremely aggravating, but there are solutions. Start by signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry and your phone carrier’s tools. Use call blocking apps and features to filter out robocalls automatically. Report any violators to the FTC and FCC to help crack down on illegal calling practices. And simply stop answering calls from any number you don’t know.
Following these tips diligently can dramatically reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive. With a multi-layered approach, you can effectively stop phone spam in its tracks and keep your mobile device or landline free of those aggravating robocalls.