Fight the scourge of unsolicited rings and pings from spammers, scammers, and telemarketers.
In this fast-paced modern world, we already have enough to keep us busy, but the influx of unwanted calls and messages from spammers, scammers, and telemarketers only adds to our list of troubles. Fortunately, major carriers and phone manufacturers have taken measures to combat these unwanted communications.
If you’re facing an onslaught of injury lawyers, fraudulent car warranty representatives, or an ex who just won’t stop drunk-dialing you, then it’s time to learn how to block them effectively. With the right steps, you can take control of your phone and get back to focusing on the things that matter.
At the same time, it’s important to guard against other types of spam-such as phishing scams, smishing attacks, and more. By taking the necessary precautions, you can keep these threats from causing problems in your life.
With so many people suffering from endless spam calls, you may wonder why no one has put an end to the problem. To dive deeper into this issue, check out WIRED senior writer Lily Hay Newman’s article on the “perpetual robocall hell” that we face.”
What to Keep in Mind
Before we dive into blocking options, there are a few things to know:
If possible, don’t answer any calls from numbers you don’t recognize. Callers with anything important to say will likely leave a message anyway. Sadly, this won’t work for people with businesses or interests that involve a lot of calls from unknown numbers.
Never click on a link or attachment in a spam text message because it could trigger malware. If possible, avoid opening them altogether.
Never respond to a spam text message, as it will confirm that your number is valid.
If you are concerned that the call or message might be from a legitimate company, try typing the number into your preferred search engine. While it can be tricky to confirm a scammer’s number, it is easy to verify a legitimate one. If you can’t find anything on the number, be cautious and ignore it. We will explain how to block numbers, but it’s also important to report unwanted calls and messages. If it’s telemarketing, scam, or spam, you can report it to the FTC here. You can also add your number to the Do Not Call Registry, though it only works for sales calls from reputable companies. Sadly, many organizations and scammers ignore it. We will go into how to report numbers to manufacturers, carriers, and third parties below. The more people do this, the easier it is to identify and preemptively block or label nuisance numbers.
Block Calls and Texts on Your iPhone with These Easy Steps
It’s easy to block individual numbers on your iPhone. Here’s how:
In the Phone app, tap Recents, then tap the Information icon next to the number or contact you want to block. Scroll down and tap Block This Caller.
In the FaceTime app, tap the Info icon next to the number, contact, or email address you want to block, then scroll down to tap Block This Caller.
In the Messages app, open the conversation with the contact you want to block, tap the contact at the top, then tap the Info button, scroll down, and tap Block This Caller.
Once a caller is blocked, you won’t get notifications when they call or send a message, but they won’t be able to tell that they have been blocked and will still be able to leave voicemails. You can review and unblock callers anytime:
Open Settings, Phone, and tap Blocked Contacts.
Open Settings, FaceTime, and tap Blocked Contacts under Calls.
Open Settings, Messages, and tap Blocked Contacts under SMS/MMS.
Filtering Unknown Callers and Senders
Unfortunately, blocking individual numbers isn’t very effective when telemarketers or scammers are contacting you, as they use multiple numbers and change them frequently. But there is something else you can do:
Open Settings, Phone, and scroll down to tap Silence Unknown Callers. When you toggle this feature on, it automatically silences calls from numbers not saved in your contacts. They can still leave a voicemail, and the calls will appear in your recent calls list.
You can do the same thing for messages by going to Settings, Messages, and scrolling down to toggle on Filter Unknown Senders.
If you open a message that turns out to be spam, always tap the Report Junk link under the message and then Delete and Report Junk.
How to Block Calls and Texts on an Android Phone
It’s straightforward to block numbers on an Android phone, too, but the method does differ from manufacturer to manufacturer.
On a stock Android device, like Google’s Pixel phones, open the Phone app and tap on the Recent tab. Long-press the number you want to block and tap Block/Report Spam. You can choose whether to uncheck the box marked Report call as spam and then tap Block.
On a Samsung phone, open the Phone app and go to Recents, tap the number you want to block, then select the Information icon and tap Block.
Filtering Unknown Callers and Senders
If you are getting a lot of unwanted calls and messages and the numbers keep changing, you might want to filter out any unknown numbers.
Open the Phone app and tap the three vertical dots on the top right, then Settings, Blocked numbers, and toggle on Unknown (or Block unknown callers on a Samsung phone).
You can also turn on caller ID and spam protection. Open the Phone app and tap the three vertical dots on the top right, then Settings, then tap Caller ID and Spam to get options to See caller and spam ID and Filter spam calls. (You can simply toggle on Caller ID and spam protection on a Samsung phone.)
If you have a Google Pixel, try call-screening to have Google Assistant answer for you and generate a transcript. To try it, open the Phone app and tap the three vertical dots at the top right, then Settings, Call Screen, and choose the voice you want. If you have turned the spam filter on, it should screen your calls automatically, but you can also tap Screen call when a call comes in.
Open the Messages app and tap the three vertical dots on the top right, then Settings, Spam protection, and toggle on Enable spam protection.
How to Block Calls or Texts With Your Carrier
The major carriers offer apps that can help you to recognize nuisance numbers and block calls or messages from them.
AT&T offers the ActiveArmor app. The basic version is free and offers spam and fraud call blocking, nuisance call alerts, and unknown call blocking. The Plus version costs $4 per month per line and adds caller ID, reverse number lookup, and additional nuisance call controls.
Verizon has a similar app called Call Filter. It offers spam detection and filtering, a white-list option for iOS, and a neighborhood spoofing filter. The Plus version costs $3 per month for one line or $8 per month for three or more, and adds caller ID, spam look-up and risk meter, and a personal block list.
T-Mobile has the free Scam Shield app, which offers caller ID, scam detection and blocking, and even a proxy number you can use when you don’t want to share your real number.
Google Fi offers various blocking options and caller ID for free in the Google Fi app.
US Cellular has the Call Guardian app offering caller ID, spam alerts, and spam reporting. The Premium version, at $4 per month, offers enhanced alerts, caller ID, and automatic call blocking.
You can also report spam messages to your carrier for free by forwarding them to 7726.
Third-Party Apps: Are They Safe and Secure?
There are numerous apps available for both Android and iOS that claim to offer protection against spam and robocall blocking. However, it’s important to exercise caution when using one of these apps. In order for them to work properly, you must grant them access to your call logs and contacts. While apps like RoboKiller and Nomorobo are considered legitimate and effective at blocking unwanted calls, there are many unscrupulous apps that may share or sell your data, or fail to properly secure it.
It’s important to thoroughly research any third-party app before using it. Take the time to review their business model and privacy policy to make sure your personal data is protected. Some of these apps require a subscription fee, so it’s important to consider the cost versus the benefits they offer.
In conclusion, while there are many promising spam protection and robocall blocking apps available, it’s crucial to exercise caution and diligence before granting access to your personal data. Choose a reputable app with a proven track record of security and privacy protection, and always err on the side of caution.