To block spam calls, you can use several effective methods depending on your phone type and preferences:
General Tips
- Register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce telemarketing calls
- Contact your phone service provider to learn about built-in call blocking and labeling services they offer, which can automatically block or label suspected spam calls
On Smartphones
iPhone
- Enable Silence Unknown Callers : This feature sends calls from numbers not in your contacts, recent calls, or Siri Suggestions directly to voicemail without ringing your phone
- Use third-party call-blocking apps from the App Store that identify and block spam calls. You can enable these apps in your phone settings under Call Blocking & Identification
- Manually block specific numbers on your iPhone if you identify spam callers
Android (Google Phone app)
- Use the built-in spam protection feature in the Phone app to mark and block spam calls. You can report spam calls and block numbers directly from your recent calls list
Samsung Galaxy Phones
- Use the Smart Call feature to block calls from unknown numbers and report spam calls. You can add numbers to your block list manually and report fraudulent calls with categories
Additional Tools
- Download reputable call-blocking apps that filter and block spam calls before they reach you. Many apps offer features like blocking by area code, sending calls to voicemail, or automatically blocking known scam numbers
- For landlines, consider installing a call-blocking device that uses databases of known scam numbers or allows you to create your own block list
Practical Lifehack
- Some users report that answering spam calls and putting the phone on mute until the caller disconnects can reduce future spam calls, as auto-dialers may remove your number from their lists after a silent line
By combining these approaches-registering on do-not-call lists, using phone and carrier tools, installing apps, and manually blocking numbers-you can significantly reduce spam calls.
