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Spam phone calls represent the No. 1 complaint received by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Both legitimate and spam calls come from real people or from recorded or autogenerated voice messages known as robocalls.
But it's the spam calls—which often try to trick you into giving up money or information—that are the biggest nuisance. For example, U.S. consumers receive about 4 billion robocalls (many of which are spam calls) each month, according to the FCC.
So, how do you stop annoying spam calls? You can take a number of steps, such as registering with the National Do Not Call Registry, blocking spam phone numbers or using technology to filter calls.
| How to Stop Spam Calls | ||
|---|---|---|
| Options | What It Does | Cost |
| Register with the National Do Not Call Registry | Stops unwanted sales calls from legitimate companies | Free |
| Block spam numbers | Block spam numbers through technology offered by phone manufacturers, phone service providers and third-party companies | Many free options; some paid premium options |
| Silence unknown/junk calls | Adjust settings on phones to filter unknown or junk calls | Free |
| Screen spam calls with carrier tools | Download apps from phone service providers to cut down on spam calls | Free and paid versions |
| Get a call-blocking app | Download apps from third-party companies to reduce volume of spam calls | Free and paid versions |
1. Register With the National Do Not Call Registry
One way you can curb unwanted calls is to add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry. You can join the registry online or by calling 888-382-1222.
At no cost, you can put your home number or cellphone number on the registry. If your number appears on this list, registered telemarketers are not supposed to contact you via live calls or robocalls. However, being on the registry doesn't block calls. Therefore, scammers can still make illegal calls to you.
If you register online, you must provide an email address. The registry system will then send a confirmation to that email address with a link that you must click within 72 hours of receiving the confirmation email. Once you sign up, your phone number should show up in the registry by the following day. Telemarketers must remove your registered phone number from their call lists within 31 days.
2. Block Spam Numbers on Your Phone
Before resorting to blocking numbers on your phone, make it a practice to not answer calls from numbers that you don't recognize. If you do answer a call from an unknown number and it turns out to be a spam call, end the call right away.
Aside from not answering calls from unknown numbers, numbers that you suspect are generating spam calls can be blocked in various ways:
- With phone settings: Phone manufacturers generally allow you to adjust settings so you can block certain numbers.
- Through your cell carrier: Many phone service providers let customers block unwanted calls by installing their call-blocking app. Phone companies sometimes proactively block calls from suspicious numbers as well.
- Via an app: Some third-party services can block unwanted calls.
Depending on your service provider, a blocked call may go directly to your voicemail, you might hear a single ring and receive caller ID information for a blocked call, or you might not receive any notification at all.
3. Silence Unknown/Junk Callers
If you have an Apple iPhone, Samsung Android or Google Pixel, you can take advantage of free call-blocking features that typically can be accessed through your device's "Settings" function:
- iPhones offer a "Silence Unknown Callers" call-screening and blocking feature.
- Androids provide a call-blocking feature called Smart Call to report and block unwanted calls.
- Pixel phones offer a "Call Screen" feature that enables users to block or screen calls.
Providers of landline service such as AT&T, Comcast, Spectrum and Verizon supply similar call-blocking functions.
4. Screen Spam Calls With Carrier Tools
Providers of wireless service let customers screen calls with various tools that include basic free versions and advanced paid versions. These include:
- AT&T's ActiveArmor: Among other things, the free version of the app blocks suspected spam calls or sends them to voicemail, and adds individual unwanted callers to your own block list.
- T-Mobile's Scam Shield call-blocking app: Features of the free app include call blocking, caller ID and the availability of an extra phone number when you don't want to provide your private phone number.
- Verizon's Call Filter app: The app's free version detects and blocks suspected spam calls.
5. Get a Call-Blocking App
Several businesses other than phone manufacturers and service providers offer call-blocking apps. Among them are:
- Call Control: The company says the app's CommunityIQ feature blocks thousands of spam and unwanted calls and texts. The feature relies on user reports and Do Not Call complaints. The app's basic version is free. A one-year subscription for the premium version costs $29.99.
- Robokiller: This app claims to have blocked 600 million spam calls. It also weeds out spam texts, analyzes voicemails and screens calls. The app offers a seven-day free trial. After that, you pay either $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year.
- Truecaller: Among other things, this app automatically blocks spam calls and text messages, identifies callers and records phone calls. The app's basic version is free. Premium versions range from $9.99 a month to $249 a year.
- YouMail: The company says this app stops spam calls and voicemails. Depending on the features you choose, the monthly cost of the app ranges from $5.99 to $34.99.
6. Report Phone Number from Scammers
You can report any phone numbers from scammers to the FCC and help stop scammers from contacting other people and committing fraud. On the phone form under "Phone Issues," you'll need to select "unwanted calls/texts" and then "all other unwanted calls/texts."
7. Take Control of Your Personal Information
Experian's personal privacy scan can show whether your phone number is publicly available on people search sites. This service also checks if other information is exposed, like your age, home address and email address. If the scan shows that your information is found online, Experian will let you know the next steps you should take to secure your data. And you can upgrade to activate recurring scans and get help with removing your data from these sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some suggestions for what to do if you answer a spam call:
- Quickly end the call.
- Avoid answering "yes" to a question. "Say yes" scams are designed to steal information or money.
- Don't provide personal information.
- Don't press any buttons on the keypad. Doing so may unintentionally supply information to a scammer.
Among the reasons you may be getting so many spam calls are:
- Data brokers sold your phone number to scammers
- Your number is floating around on the dark web
- Your number was included in a data breach
- You previously answered a spam call
- You posted your phone number on social media
Some callers might be trying to get you to say the word "yes" as part of a "say yes" scam. If you say "yes," a scammer might record your answer to provide verbal "proof" that you authorized a transaction such as a credit card purchase.
Steps to take if you're the victim of a "say yes" scam include:
- Enroll in an identity theft protection service.
- Monitor your accounts for fraudulent transactions.
- Check your credit reports for suspicious activity.
- Consider temporarily turning off access to your credit or debit cards, or even ordering replacement cards.
The Bottom Line
Scam calls and other unwanted calls can be a big pain. But you can ease or even prevent the pain by signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry and embracing technology that's designed to block or limit nuisance calls.