Why are you getting so many calls? Often, it’s scammers calling. Here’s what you need to know about unwanted calls and how to stop them. Share these articles, infographics, and videos with your friends, family, and followers.
Blocking Unwanted Calls
Scammers can use the internet to make calls from all over the world. They don’t care if you’re on the National Do Not Call Registry. That’s why your best defense against unwanted calls is call blocking. Which type of call-blocking or call-labeling technology you use will depend on the phone — whether it’s a mobile, traditional landline, or a home phone that makes calls over the internet (VoIP).
Read this article: How to Block Unwanted Calls
Watch these videos:
Share these graphics:
Robocalls
If you answer the phone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it's a robocall. If you’re getting a lot of robocalls trying to sell you something, odds are the calls are illegal. Many are also probably scams.
Read this article: Robocalls
Report Robocalls
Share these graphics:
National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry was created to stop sales calls from real companies. It’s free to register your home or mobile phone number.
Are you sick and tired of all the spam calls you get? The FCC has tried to crack down on such calls, while lawmakers on the federal and state levels have passed legislation to address the problem. But there are certain actions you can take on your own. Android devices and iPhones come with built-in features for blocking specific phone numbers, while mobile carriers offer their own blocking tools.
Several third-party apps—including Hiya, RoboKiller, Truecaller, and Call Control—also work to block telemarketing calls. And you can register your phone number with the FTC's Do Not Call Registry, though that won't stop scammers and disreputable telemarketers from calling you. Let's check out each option.
(If you’re also receiving unwanted robotexts, there are steps you can take to block them, too.)
Block Numbers on an iPhone
How To Stop Robocalls and SpammersLike What You're Reading?
Sign up for Fully Mobilized newsletter to get our top mobile tech stories delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Sign up for other newslettersAbout Lance Whitney
Contributor
I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, Popular Science, Time, Fortune, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.
Robocalls just won't go away. Try as you might to ignore the ring of telemarketers, the spam always seems to return, no matter what you do.
While the Federal Communications Commission has beefed up its own policies around spam and robocalls, it's still mostly on you to stop these annoyances.
Whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, here's how you can block spam calls and robocalls for good.
Note: An Insider survey in February 2021 found that 46% of Americans say they receive spam calls on their cell phone every single day.
How to stop spam calls
- Don't pick up calls from unknown or unrecognized numbers. Answering robocalls confirms to spammers that your number is real, which may result in more calls. If you pick up accidentally, hang up immediately.
- Never give out personal information. Even if the caller says they are from a government agency or trusted institution, don't ever give out social security numbers, bank accounts, passwords, or any other information.
- Talk with your service provider. They may have apps or other tools that could help you block unwanted calls.
How to block spam calls on iPhone
Spam calls on iPhones can be blocked by either blocking individual numbers or filtering unknown callers.
Block individual numbers
To block a phone number on your iPhone, locate the robocall number on your Phone app's Recent calls list. Next, tap the "i" icon to the right of the number and select "Block Contact" from the options list.
You can block all future calls from known spam calls by blocking individual numbers.Dave Johnson/Insider
Filter unknown callers
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Phone and select Silence Unknown Callers.
Enable Silence Unknown CallersKyle Wilson/Insider
Quick tip: Turning on Do Not Disturb mode can also help by silencing all notifications that you don't explicitly allow.
How to block spam calls on Android
Much like on iPhone, you can also block spam calls on Android.
Block individual numbers
To block a number on Android, tap and hold the number in your recent calls list until a menu appears. Then select whatever variation of "Block/Report Spam" is available.
You can add a number or block all unknown numbers.Abbey White/Insider
Any phone with the Android 11 update now has access to expanded robocall identification and prevention that helps call-screening apps more effectively sort out robocalls from real ones.
Filter unknown callers
Some Android devices allow you to block unknown calls as well. Like on iPhones, this is typically found in the Settings app under Phone.
Other ways to block spam calls
While the above can be effective, there are other ways to address spam calls.
Join the US national Do Not Call registry
The National Do Not Call Registry takes you off of the public lists that telemarketers use to make their mass calls.
While joining won't stop charities, political groups, debt collectors, and surveys from contacting you, it may reduce the number of spam calls you get. It also lets you report unwanted spam calls to the Federal Trade Commission.
Add yourself to the National Do Not Call Registry to stop getting spam calls from reputable marketers.Dave Johnson/Insider
You can register your number on the Do Not Call list at no cost by calling 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY). You can also do it online by following the steps below:
1. Go to DoNotCall.gov and hit the "Register" link.
2. Enter your phone number without hyphens (you can register three at a time, in fact) and your email address (for confirmation).
3. Go to your email and find the message from Register@donotcall.gov within 72 hours of your submission.
4. Follow the steps within the email to complete the registration process.
Use tools developed by phone carriers
Most cell phone carriers have a number of free or low-cost tools available to help you automatically block robocalls and protect you from spam.
Anti-robocall apps, like AT&T's Call Protect (pictured), will block known spam callers and try to flag suspected robocalls as "suspicious," dramatically reducing the number of marketing calls you answer.Dave Johnson/Insider
- AT&T: The Call Protect app blocks both potential spam and fraud calls, while also offering nuisance warnings labels. You also have access to a personal spam-blocking list and the ability to block any unknown callers.
- Sprint/T-Mobile: T-Mobile — which now owns Sprint — offers Scam Shield, a free service that blocks any calls from numbers the carrier has recognized as a nuisance. Just dial #ONB# (#662#) from your phone to turn it on, or download it in the app store.
- Verizon: Call Filter offers spam detection and filtering, a blocked call log, and the ability to report a spam call. It's free for customers, with the premium version, Call Filter Plus, priced at just $2.99 each month for a single line or $7.99 a month for 3 or more lines.
Quick tip: If your carrier isn't listed above, call their customer service line to find out what robocall and spam-blocking tools they have available.
Download third-party call blocker apps
Another way to stop robocalls is to install a call-blocking app. Such apps actually intercept and answer calls for you, so they never ring through and annoy you, or expose you to a scam.
Many of these apps also actively collect data on spammers, blocking them permanently once they have been identified —so by using a robocall blocking app, you're helping not just yourself but other callers.
However, it is important to use a legitimate app and to conduct your own research. In order to function, these apps need access to both your call logs and contacts, which is sensitive information.
Here are two reliable apps you can try that are available on iPhone and Android:
- Nomorobo costs just $1.99 per month, with a free version for VoIP landlines.
- RoboKiller costs $2.99 per month, and it comes with a truly delightful feature: it deploys its own bots who use carefully crafted pre-recorded messages to keep scam callers on the line as long as possible, wasting their time and preventing them from calling others.
Steven John
Freelance Writer
Steven John is a freelance writer living near New York City by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, four in Boston, and the first 18 near DC. When not writing or spending time with his wife and kids, he can occasionally be found climbing mountains. His writing is spread across the web, and his books can be found at www.stevenjohnbooks.com.
Read more Read lessDave Johnson
Freelance Writer
Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.
Read more Read lessKyle Wilson
Kyle Wilson is an editor for the Reference team, based in British Columbia, Canada. Outside of Insider, his work has also appeared in publications like The Verge, VICE, Kotaku, and more. He periodically guest co-hosts the Saturday tech show "Tech Talk" on the iHeartRadio station C-FAX 1070. Feel free to reach out to him on Twitter, where he can be found most of the time, @KWilsonMG.
Read more Read lessWe may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.