6 Simple Things You Can Do To Stop Spam Calls

Remember when the only unwanted calls we ever had to deal with came from telemarketers and bill collectors? Those were more peaceful times, before spam calls and robocalls became the epidemic they are today!

According to data collected by YouMail, U.S. consumers received around 50.3 billion robocalls in 2022. They’re a huge nuisance, and I’m betting I’m not the only one interested in learning how to stop spam calls!

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After some research, I came up with 6 ways to prevent spam calls, or at least reduce their frequency. Take these simple steps to stop spam calls and protect your peace of mind!

6 Easy Ways To Block Spam Calls

1. Add Your Name To The ‘Do Not Call’ Registry

The FTC operates a National Do Not Call Registry that’s free to sign up for, which informs sales companies and telemarketers that you don’t want to be called. Plenty of scammers and spammers don’t care about the Registry, so registering your name and number won’t stop all annoying calls, but it’s a great place to start if you get a lot of telemarketing calls!

2. Download An App

Several smartphone apps can identify and block spam calls on your behalf. Here are a few options:

• Hiya – Free on Android and iOS.
• RoboKiller – Free and paid options.
• Nomorobo – Free 14-day trial, then $1.99/month.

3. Get Help From Your Wireless Carrier

Most major phone carriers offer a service to help keep spam calls at bay. Make sure you’re taking advantage of what your carrier has to offer!

• AT&T – The AT&T ActiveArmor app for Android and iOS identifies suspected spam callers and lets you block their numbers, and it’s free for AT&T customers.
• T-Mobile – T-Mobile customers can download the free Scam Shield app to access anti-scam protections like Scam ID, Scam Block, and Scam Counter.
• Verizon – Verizon offers customers a free Call Filter app that detects and filters spam calls, and a paid option called Call Filter Plus with more advanced features.

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4. Block Phone Numbers

Blocking a phone number can help reduce the number of spam calls you receive. Here’s a quick overview of how to block spam calls:

• On iPhone – Pull up your recent calls list and press the blue information icon next to the number you want to block. Scroll down and tap “Block this caller.”
• On Android – Go to your recent calls list and long press on the number you want to block. Find and select the “Block” option.

5. Don’t Engage

Engaging with spam calls and robocalls can be considered an indication of interest, and could attract more unwanted calls to your phone. Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers, but if you do answer one, hang up as quickly as possible.

If you receive a call with a prompt to press a certain button to stop receiving those calls, you’re likely better off just hanging up, as some scammers use this trick to identify potential targets.

Bonus iPhone Tip: If you press the side button on your iPhone when you have an incoming call, it will stop ringing and vibrating. Pressing the side button twice will decline the call so you can keep using your phone.

6. Verify The Source

While some unwanted calls are easy to identify, others can seem pretty legitimate! If you get a call from someone who claims to represent a company or government agency, you can always call their customer service line directly to verify the call’s authenticity.

You’re much more likely to receive notifications by mail or email when a company or agency needs to contact you. And that’s especially true with anything related to making a payment!

Do you have any other tips to help prevent spam calls?