How to Stop Scam Calls

Why Am I Getting So Many Spam Calls?

Scammers have figured out various ways to flood Americans with spam calls. Here are seven of them.

1. Robocalls: Scammers use prerecorded audio in robocalls designed to imitate legitimate sales calls. These calls can get tagged as telemarketing and slip past spam filters.
2. Random phone number: Autodialers generate or cycle through numbers sequentially, with no need for leaked data. Recycled numbers also carry over the previous owner's spam traffic.
3. Phone number sold: Brokers scrape publicly available information online and sell it to marketers, then generators compile it into prospect lists. Scammers can also obtain this data through breaches and resell it on the dark web.
4. Dark web: Illegal online marketplaces and forums buy and sell personal data, including phone numbers stolen from breaches, fake websites and phishing scams.
5. Delayed prevention: As of late 2025, only 44% of phone companies had fully installed federally required anti-robocall software and adopted federally mandated robocall-fighting policies, according to a U.S. PIRG analysis of Federal Communication Commission (FCC) data. The law is aimed at cracking down on spoofing, which occurs when a caller falsifies their name and number on caller ID. Your phone carrier may not have put these measures into place yet.
6. Past spam calls: If you've received and answered spam calls in the past, this can signal to scammers that your number is active, which then can produce more calls from different numbers.
7. Phone number on social media: Publicly listed numbers, such as those posted on social media sites, are easy for scammers to find and harvest.

Learn more: What to Do if Your Information Is Found on the Dark Web

7 Ways to Stop Spam Calls

You can help reduce spam calls by taking these seven steps.

1. Register With the National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry is designed to stop unwanted sales calls. You can register your cell or home number at no cost.

This list tells registered telemarketers what numbers they're not allowed to call, but it doesn't block calls. In other words, the registry doesn't keep scammers from illegally calling you, but it can decrease the number of telemarketing calls you receive.

2. Block Spam Numbers on Your Phone

Phone companies sometimes block calls for customers when they detect suspicious calling patterns, and some even automatically enroll customers in call-block services. You also can adjust your phone settings or sign up for a third-party service to combat spam calls.

3. Silence Unknown or Junk Callers

Major phone manufacturers enable you to silence unwanted callers.

• Apple iPhones come with opt-in "Silence Unknown Callers" call-screening and blocking features.
• Samsung, which makes phones that run on the Android operating system, provides a "Smart Call" call-blocking function to report and block unwanted calls.
• Google Pixel phones, which also run on the Android system, are equipped with a "Call Screen" feature. In addition, Google's Phone by Google app helps customers avoid unwanted calls, and Google Voice users can block spam calls.

Learn more: Should You Pay for Cellphone ID Protection?

4. Screen Spam Calls With Carrier Tools

Major wireless service providers offer tools to screen spam calls. Here are offerings from four of those companies.

• AT&T's network automatically blocks known fraud calls and spam text messages through its ActiveArmor app, and labels suspected spam calls.
• Spectrum's Call Guard flags and blocks unknown robocallers, and it tags calls from suspicious telemarketing numbers as a spam risk.
• T-Mobile's built-in Scam ID tool automatically displays "Scam Likely" and the number of the caller if a scam call is suspected, and Scam Block stops scam calls before they even hit your phone. T-Mobile's technology also catches spoofed calls and assigns labels to certain calls, such as "Telemarketing," "Political" and "Potential Spam."
• Verizon's Call Filter feature screens calls to detect potential spam calls, robocalls and fraud calls, and it automatically forwards high-risk spam and fraud calls to voicemail.

5. Get a Call-Blocking App

Various wireless service providers offer call-blocking apps. But you can also download apps from third-party companies that usually let you block calls and send calls directly to voicemail, among other capabilities.

6. Report Phone Numbers From Scammers

To fight fraud, report spam call phone numbers to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and to your phone company.

7. Take Control of Your Personal Information

To take control of your personal information and help safeguard it from scammers.

• Opt out of having your phone number appear on "people search" websites. Keep in mind, though, that with hundreds of data brokers in the U.S., it's next to impossible to keep your contact information private.
• Don't post your phone number on social media platforms and online profiles.
• Be careful about providing your phone number to participate in a contest or free trial, or to claim loyalty points or score discounts.
• Consider using a secondary phone number (like Google Voice) when signing up online for online services and accounts, even if you trust them.

Learn more: How to Remove Your Information From People Search Sites

What to Do if You Answer a Spam Call

If you answer a spam call:

• End the call right away. Do not say anything to the caller, as this can provide proof that your number is active and could be valuable to other scammers. Also, don't press any buttons, since this also can inform the caller that your number is active.
• Don't say "yes." The caller might record you saying the word and use your response to commit fraud.
• Don't provide personal data. This includes your Social Security number and your banking information.
• Block the number. On your phone, blacklist the number as soon as you've ended the call.
• Report the call. To help fight scammers, let the FTC know about the call, along with your phone company. If you received a call from a spoofed number, report it to the FCC.
• Protect yourself. If you believe you were a victim of the phone scam, be sure to monitor your credit. You have the right to place a fraud alert on your credit file and, depending on the type of fraud, you should notify your credit card issuer, your bank or the appropriate government agency.

Learn more: What Is the "Say Yes" Scam?

The Bottom Line

Registering with the National Do Not Call Registry, using your wireless service provider's call-screening tools and keeping your phone number off public profiles can go a long way toward reducing your volume of spam calls. If a spam call does turn into a scam and your personal information is compromised, keeping an eye on your credit can help you catch trouble early.

Experian offers free credit monitoring, which can alert you to unfamiliar accounts or inquiries that may suggest your information was misused.