How to stop spam calls & robocalls
Are you tired of the constant barrage of spam calls and robocalls? You’re not alone.
This guide will walk you through the steps you can take right now to stop spam calls on your device, as well as long-term strategies to reduce them for good. From registering your number with the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry to removing your data from data broker sites, we’ve got you covered.
Keep reading to learn how to block spam calls on various devices.
Updated: February 07, 2025
In short, here’s how to stop spam calls:
- Register your phone numbers with the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry.
- Remove your data from the web including data brokers sites.
- Use a third-party spam blocking app
- Block spam calls through your mobile carrier
- Block certain callers from reaching you
- Find out how to stop spam calls on iPhone, Android, and landlines.
What is a spam call and why is it worse than you think?
Spam calls, or nuisance calls, are unsolicited phone calls that typically aim to extract money or data from recipients. While they can be disruptive and irritating, they can also be dangerous. Spam calls can come in the form of promotional calls, survey and research calls, robocalls, and scam calls.
Even if you don’t fall for a scam call, receiving them is already bad news. It means that somewhere along the way, your personal information (at least your phone number) fell into the wrong hands. Simply answering one of these calls opens the door to more down the line as it confirms that the number is active and in use.
Check out our article on how to remove your personal information from the internet to protect your sensitive data from fraudsters or try our fully automated data removal service.
Keep reading to learn how to do this in detail.
1) Register your phone numbers with the FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry.
Registering your phone number with the Do Not Call Registry helps reduce unwanted sales calls from telemarketers. It won’t stop all calls, like scams or certain exceptions, but it will block most legitimate telemarketing companies – including health insurance companies – from bothering you.
Our research shows that the number of people on the Do Not Call registry increased by 2.7 million between 2022 and 2023.
Here is what to do:
To register, go to donotcall.gov and register for free. Alternatively, call 1-888-382-1222 (free of charge).
- Go to https://www.donotcall.gov/.
- Click “register your phone.”
- Click “register here.”
- Enter up to three phone numbers, provide and confirm your email address, and click “submit.”
Make sure to check your inbox for the verification email. If you don’t receive it within a few minutes, it may have gone to your spam folder.
If you’re unsure whether you’ve already registered your number to the Do Not Call registry, you can click “verify your registration” instead of “register your phone” in Step 2.
- Note: calls from political groups, charities, surveys, or companies you’ve previously done business with will not be blocked.
2) Take your phone number off data broker sites
Blocking numbers using your phone settings is like dealing with a leaky roof by opening an umbrella. There’s a better way. Rather than trying to filter spam calls on your handset, you can stop robocalls and spam calls cold by getting your contact details off the market. What market?
There’s a $257,000,000,000+ industry based on the buying and selling of personal data. Companies called data brokers specialize in collecting, processing, and monetizing individuals’ personal information. They get the vast majority of this data from public sources, repackaging it into detailed profiles and “background reports.”
Type your full name into a web search engine and you’ll likely find a bunch of people search sites (a kind of data broker) eager to sell access to your personal information. These are just the tip of the iceberg: many data brokers prefer to deal in your data behind the scenes and won’t show up in a search like this.
The people responsible for all those spam calls you receive, from regular telemarketing calls to illegal robocalls and scam calls, have to get your number from somewhere. Not only your number, but often other personal details like your name, mailing address, and preferred online device.
No matter where the bulk of your spam calls originate, there’s a good chance you ended up on these spam callers’ lists with the help of a data broker. So if you could get data brokers to stop sharing your personal information, you’d be able to drastically reduce the number of spam calls you get, without the hassle of call screening.
Here’s the crazy part: to stop data brokers, these shadowy companies that trade your privacy for their profits, all you have to do is ask. State laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) force data brokers to honor opt-out requests when they receive them.
You can find our individual opt out guides here or subscribe to Incogni and let us handle the data removal process on your behalf.
3) Use a third-party spam blocking app
For an added layer of spam protection, try downloading a spam-blocking app for your iPhone. Spam-blocking or spam-filtering apps rely on a database of numbers previously identified as sources of spam. When a call comes in, the app runs it against its database and identifies whether it’s a spam, telemarketing, or other type of nuisance call.
Depending on which spam-blocking app you try, you may only be notified about the type of call coming through, or the app may automatically prevent the call from coming through entirely. Your phone calls should never be sent to the app developers, ensuring your privacy. However, as with any app you download, you should exercise caution and discretion. Make sure you choose an app with a good reputation that isn’t likely to go rogue.
If you want to give call-blocking apps a go and have chosen a reliable one, here’s what you should do:
- Open the app store and download the app.
- Open the settings app.
- Tap on “phone.”
- Find the “call blocking & identification” section.
- Find the “allow these apps to block calls and provide caller ID” section.
- Toggle on the switch next to the app you downloaded.
Call-filtering apps generally offer a wider range of call-blocking services and customization options. You can choose one that automatically blocks any incoming calls flagged as spam or go for an option that displays the type of spam it is using caller ID. Whatever option you go for, you should always ensure the app is from a reputable developer and has a low likelihood of “going rogue.”
Here are some call-blocking apps, in no particular order, that we can personally recommend:
4) Block spam calls through your mobile carrier
Most major mobile carriers also provide call-blocking services, whether free or for an added fee.
Here’s a list of tools and services according to your provider:
- Verizon – Call Filter, available on Android and iPhone, offers basic spam blocking for free. There is also the Call Filter Plus, which provides caller ID and spam lookup for an additional fee.
- AT&T – ActiveArmor, available on Android and iPhone, provides basic call protection and call blocking with its free version. The paid version also adds caller ID and reverse number lookup features.
- T-Mobile – Scam Shield, available on Android and iPhone, provides basic spam-call blocking for free. It also offers a premium version with block lists and proxy phone numbers.
- UScellular – Call Guardian, available on Android and iPhone, offers basic spam blocking for free. The premium version also allows you to create your own blocking lists.
5) Block certain callers from reaching you
You can prevent certain callers from reaching you entirely by blocking their number. So, if there are certain numbers you recognize as spam callers, you end up answering a spam call, or you’re left a message (from the Silence Unknown or Junk Callers features) that’s suspect, we recommend you block those numbers.
This might be a somewhat tedious process, but the more numbers you block, the fewer spam calls you’ll receive in the future. To the spammers, your phone will be seen as unresponsive or inactive, making it less likely for them to target you in the future, even from other numbers.
Here’s how you block voice calls, FaceTime calls, and messages from specific callers on an iPhone:
- Open the phone app.
- Tap “recents” or “voicemail” (depending on whether you’ve taken the call or not).
- Tap the “i” icon next to the number you want to block.
- Scroll down and tap “block this caller.”
6) Find out how to stop spam calls on iPhone, Android, and landlines.
- Android devices come with some built-in solutions. While these do not help prevent spam calls, they will help to manage the problem short term.
- There are various methods you can try to stop spam calls on your iPhone. Some of them may work better for your needs than others. For the best results, we recommend using all of them. The Silence Unknown Callers feature available on iOS 13 and later lets iPhone users avoid unwanted calls by silencing them.
- Landlines receive just as many spam calls as mobile phones. Here is what you can do to stop unwanted calls on your landline phone and block a certain number on landline.
7) Use alternative numbers or disposable numbers when signing up for online services
Spam calls are often a result of your phone number being shared or sold when signing up for online services. To protect yourself, consider using number generators or disposable numbers when registering for accounts or services. This way, your real number remains private, reducing the chances of it ending up on spam call lists. It’s a simple yet effective way to maintain your privacy and cut down on unwanted calls.
What should you do if you answer a spam call?
Don’t pick up calls from unknown numbers when you’re not expecting one. Let it go to voicemail. Legitimate callers will leave a message, while automated calls do not.
But what should you do if you answer an incoming call from an unknown number and realize it’s a spam call? We’ve covered this topic here.
How to report spam calls to the FTC and FCC
You should report any and all spam calls you receive to the FTC and FCC (Federal Communications Commission). It won’t prevent the specific caller from contacting you (the previous options in this list can take care of that), but it will blacklist them, making it easier for companies and regulators to deal with them accordingly. Reporting to both the FTC and FCC is completely free and should only take you a couple of minutes.
Here’s how you can report spam calls to the FTC:
- Go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Click “report now.”
- Click “phone, internet, TV service” and then select “cellular or landline phone service.”
- Click “continue” and follow the on-screen instructions.
Here’s how you can report spam calls to the FCC:
- Go to the phone complaints page of the Consumer Inquiries and Complaint Center.
- Fill out the form and select “unwanted call/messages” under “phone issues.”
- Click “submit.”
More guides on how to stop spam:
- How to stop spam calls on landline
- How to block a number on a landline
- How to stop spam risk (spam/scam likely) calls
- How to stop spam calls on iPhone
- What are “potential spam” calls? And how to stop them?
- How to block “No Caller ID” on an iPhone
- How to find the number behind “no caller ID”
- Got a call from yourself? How to stop it
- “No caller ID” vs “Unknown caller” and how to stop anonymous calls
- What is Dynata? Why are they calling, & how to stop the calls
- How to stop spam calls on iPhone
- Why are you getting so many spam calls and emails?
- How to stop spam calls on Android?
- ]How to stop Medicare calls?
Not exactly what you’re looking for? We’ve organized all our articles about stopping spam here.
FAQ
Why am I suddenly getting so many spam calls?
There are a number of possible explanations for why you’re suddenly getting so many spam calls. If you’re getting spam calls from a range of random phone numbers, then it’s possible your phone number is being passed around between data brokers, and the spammers are getting it from there.
How to block unwanted calls on a landline?
To block unwanted calls on a landline, activate call blocking features or use a call-blocking device. For step-by-step instructions, check out our complete guide to blocking unwanted calls.
Can spam calls be traced?
Yes. Dialing *69 will trace the last person who called you and lets you call them back. Also, if a scam caller is harassing you, you can dial *57. Your phone service provider responds to these numbers automatically, logging all the info and passing it to the police. This way, the authorities can locate your harasser.
What is a spam risk call?
A spam risk call, sometimes labeled “Scam Likely” or “Scam Risk”, is a name that a mobile carrier gives to numbers associated with spam. Carriers use machine learning to identify spam and scam-likely calls and let you know.
Why do I keep getting spam risk calls?
People are getting more spam calls because spammers can make money through them. You may have unknowingly answered a spam robocall in the past, and the spammers’ system registered your number as active. This means it’s prime for more spam. Try blocking the number and registering yourself on the national Do Not Call registry.
Is there a spam blocker for landlines?
Yes, there are two ways to block spam calls on landline phones. If you have a VoIP phone, install call-blocking software. If you still use a copper line, getting a call-blocking device is your best option.
How do I permanently get rid of spam calls?
There’s no reliable way to block spam calls without running the risk of missing important calls from unknown callers. The best option is to starve spammers of your phone number in the first place.
This isn’t a permanent solution either, though. You’ll need to keep searching for your personal information among data brokers and submitting and resubmitting opt-out requests to keep your data suppressed. This is why an automated personal information service is such a good approach: it might not be a “one and done” solution, but it’ll work for as long as you want it to.
Does dialing 662 block spam calls?
Dialing #662# on your Android phone will block calls flagged as “Scam Likely”, but it won’t block spam calls in general. Like many other spam-blocking methods, this one doesn’t have any downsides, but it isn’t a complete solution, either.
Here’s how to enable call blocking for “Scam Likely” phone numbers on Android:
1. Open your phone app and switch to the dial pad;
2. Dial #662#;
3. Tap the receiver icon like you would when calling a regular number.
Is it better to ignore or decline spam calls?
It’s better to ignore rather than decline spam calls. If you don’t recognize the caller ID, just let it ring out. Your Android phone will let you assign a button to silence incoming calls rather than reject them. Rejecting a call might let the caller know that your number is active.
Is there a setting to block spam calls on iPhone?
There are two settings to block spam calls on the iPhone. These are the Silence Unknown Callers and Silence Junk Callers features. You can turn them on in the “call blocking & identification” section of the settings app.
Can you block all spam risk calls on iPhone?
You can’t block all spam risk calls through iPhone settings. You can block all unknown callers and junk callers. However, if you want to block spam risk calls, you can download a third-party spam-blocking app.
Should I block all spam calls?
You should block all the spam calls you receive. Accidentally answering a spam call can open the door to more spam and scam calls later on, even if you hang up right away. Blocking all spam calls reduces this risk and leads to fewer spam calls down the line.
How do spam callers get your number?
Spam callers can get your number from a variety of sources. This may include warranty cards, online shopping accounts, social media accounts, public records, data brokers and people search sites, and data leaks and breaches.
You can reduce the exposure of your phone number and other contact details by removing your data from the data brokers and people search sites that sell them to marketers and other third parties (even scammers, on occasion). You can also try an automated data removal service like Incogni to keep your personal information off the market.
