Stop spam > Stop spam calls

How to stop spam calls & robocalls: a complete guide

2.5 billion—that’s the estimated number of robocalls Americans receive every month.

And, sadly, that figure is likely to grow in the coming years. But so is the number of options to fight spam.

In this article, we’re going to walk you through some defenses against spam calls—both for mobile and landline numbers.

Let’s dive in!

Updated on: 30 September, 2026

Get a quick, AI-generated snapshot of the spam call problem—based on trusted sources we reviewed.

In short, to stop spam calls:

To reduce spam calls: Join the Do Not Call Registry, block spam via phone settings or apps, and remove your number from data broker sites. Protect your main number and use secondary ones for online sign-ups.

That is, to really combat spam calls, you should:

1. Stop spam calls at the source.
2. Block spam calls from reaching your phone.
3. Prevent future spam calls.

The best approach is to apply all three levels.

Are you a landline user? See “Section 1” and “Extra.”

SECTION 1: Stop spam calls at the source

It’s best to cure an illness, not just treat it.

If you’re looking to put an end to spam calls, you need to diagnose and address their source.

And that source is—data brokers.

Stop spam calls by signing up to the Do Not Call Registry

Start by signing up for the Do Not Call Registry.

In short, it’s an initiative from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) aimed at stopping spam calls from telemarketers who operate legally.

Once your number is registered, it informs marketers that you don’t want to be contacted by them. If they follow the law, they won’t call you.

Here’s how to do it:

• Do Not Call Registry
• Select “register your phone” and follow the instructions.

Signing up for the registry is free.

Alternatively, you can call the FTC at 1-888-382-1222 (voice) or 1-866-290-4236 (TTY) from the number you want to register.

However, the registry isn’t as effective as it should be: not all marketers comply, and it doesn’t affect scammers at all.

That’s why you shouldn’t stop there—opt out from data brokers as well.

Stop spam calls by removing your data from the internet

Brokers specialize in collecting your data and selling it for profit to other parties, including businesses, organizations, and individuals.

If you keep receiving spam calls after signing up for the Do Not Call Registry, your number has likely been traded in these types of transactions.

You can break this cycle by removing your number from data brokers’ records.

Here’s how.

Opt out from data brokers manually

Some brokers publish their records to make them available to the general public—these are called “people search sites.”

Check Whitepages, Intelius, or Truthfinder. Ten to one, you’re going to find your data there.

Here’s what you should do:

• Search for your profile on all the major people search sites (here’s a list) or use our scanner.
• Once you find your data, look for an opt-out form—there’s usually a link to one in the site’s footer.
• Follow the instructions provided.
• Repeat this process for every data broker storing your information.

For more information, refer to our opt-out guides for over 80 data brokers.

With the number of data brokers out there reaching into the hundreds, opting out manually can quickly become a monumental task.

But there’s a much faster way.

Opt out from data brokers with Incogni

Subscribe to Incogni and opt out of hundreds of data brokers with just a few clicks.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to Incogni.
2. Choose the plan that suits you best.
3. Provide the information needed to help us identify your profile.
4. Sit back and relax while we handle the heavy lifting for you.

Incogni protects you continuously—not only do we remove your data from brokers, but we also ensure it doesn’t make its way back.

Plus, many brokers operate behind the scenes, away from public view, unlike people search sites.

We target those brokers, too.

Landline: If you’re a landline user, skip ahead to the landline section for more solutions to stop spam calls.

SECTION 2: Block spam calls from reaching you

Even if you request the removal of your number from data brokers, they often take a long time to act on that request.

Plus, it won’t stop spammers who already have your number.

Here’s how to treat the existing symptoms—block spam calls from reaching you.

How to block spam calls on iPhone (iOS)

The iPhone comes with two native tools built specifically for this, though iOS 26 renamed and relocated both of them: Screen Unknown Callers and Call Filtering. 

Used together with individual number blocking, they cover most of what you need without installing anything extra.

Turn on Screen Unknown Callers

Screen Unknown Callers silences calls from numbers that aren’t saved in your contacts, Mail, or Messages apps—or, if you’d rather screen them first, has your iPhone ask who’s calling before it rings through.

Here’s what happens when it’s on:

• Three modes: Never (everything rings through, the default), Ask Reason for Calling (your iPhone answers unknown numbers, asks who’s calling and why, and shows you a transcript before deciding whether to let it ring), or Silence (unknown numbers go straight to voicemail).
• Contacts: Numbers already in your contacts, or ones you’ve called recently, always ring through.
• Emergency calls: The feature turns itself off for 24 hours after you call 911.

It’s a solid option if spam calls keep interrupting your day, but Silence mode comes with a real trade-off: you risk missing calls from a doctor’s office, a delivery driver, or a recruiter calling from a new number.

If that trade-off works for you, here’s how to turn it on:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap “apps,” then “phone” (this moved out of the main Settings list with iOS 26).
3. Tap “screen unknown callers” and choose “silence” or “ask reason for calling.”

Turn on Call Filtering for spam

Call Filtering is the carrier-side spam filter—if you remember “Silence Junk Callers,” this is its successor.

Calls your carrier flags as spam or fraud get silenced and moved to a separate Spam list instead of ringing through.

It only works if your carrier supports spam identification, which Verizon and T-Mobile both do.

Here’s how to turn it on:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap “apps,” then “phone.”
3. Tap “call filtering” and turn on “spam.”

On iOS 18 and earlier, both of these live under Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification, labeled “Silence Unknown Callers” and “Silence Junk Callers.”

How to block spam calls on Android Devices

Android’s approach depends a bit on which dialer app you’re using, but the core tools work the same way: caller ID and spam filtering, plus a nuclear “block everyone unknown” option.

Use the Google Phone app’s built-in spam filter

If you don’t already have the Google Phone app, you can get it free from the Google Play Store. It’s a dialer with better spam detection and caller ID than most manufacturer defaults.

Caller ID and spam protection is a feature that identifies incoming spam calls before you answer, and it’s usually on by default. Here’s how to check and enable it:

Open the phone app.

1. Tap the three dots at the top-right corner.
2. Tap “settings.”
3. Under the “assistive” section, tap “caller ID & spam.”
4. Turn on “filter spam calls.”
5. Optional: toggle “see caller & spam ID” for more detail on incoming calls.

Some users find the filter overly sensitive, occasionally flagging legitimate calls. Test it out and adjust based on what you actually experience.

Note: Pixel 6 and newer don’t show this toggle—those phones filter spam through Call Screen instead.

Block all unknown callers on Android

The most aggressive option: block every number that isn’t already in your contacts.

1. Open the phone app and tap the three dots in the top-right corner.
2. Select “settings” from the dropdown, then tap “blocked numbers.”
3. Toggle the switch next to “unknown.”

Just like the iPhone equivalent, this is a blanket solution—weigh how many legitimate calls you typically get from unsaved numbers before turning it on.

Dial #662# to block “Scam Likely” calls

This is actually a T-Mobile network code, not an Android-wide feature—it works on any phone connected to T-Mobile’s network, iPhone included. 

Dial #662# to activate T-Mobile’s Scam Block, which blocks calls flagged “Scam Likely.” 

It won’t catch everything, but it’s a fast, free first layer of defense.

How to block an individual contact permanently

If you’d rather not silence every unsaved number, you can block specific callers one at a time. 

It’s more selective, so you’re less likely to miss something important—though spammers who keep generating new numbers will slip past it eventually.

On iPhone:

1. Open the phone app.
2. Tap “recents” or “voicemail” (depending on whether you took the call).
3. Tap the “i” icon next to the number you want to block.
4. Scroll down and tap “block this caller.“

On Android:

1. Open the phone app and go to the “call history” or “recents” tab.
2. Tap the call from the number you want to block.
3. Tap “block/report spam.”

To the spammer’s dialer, your number will look unresponsive or disconnected, which makes it less likely to be dialed again.

One caveat: this only works on numbers that actually show up on your screen. A true “No Caller ID” call has no number attached, so there’s nothing to block—you’d need to unmask it first.

Block spam calls with your service provider

Instead of silencing all unknown callers, you can install apps that filter out only potential spam while allowing other calls through.

Most major operators in the US offer their own software to block spam calls.

Here’s an overview of the available options.

If you can’t see your operator here it means it doesn’t have a dedicated spam-blocking tool as of yet.

In such cases, you might consider installing a third-party app—learn more about these below.

Block spam calls with third-party apps

If your service provider doesn’t offer spam-blocking services, or if their services are ineffective, you can install third-party apps that filter all incoming calls and silence those identified as spam.

There are plenty of apps to choose from, and most offer freemium services—that is, limited functionality for free.

However, most spam-blocking apps require access to your sensitive data, such as contacts, messages, and call logs.

Some go further, accessing files, photos, personal information, location, financial data, and more.

A few even include people search site functionality, essentially acting as data brokers.

For this reason, we recommend caution in approaching these apps.

Here’s a list of spam-blocking apps that appear to respect your privacy:

Apps you shouldn’t install (because of their potentially invasive privacy policies):

• Robokiller
• Hiya
• Truecaller
• CallApp: Caller ID & Block

SECTION 3: Prevent future spam calls

None of the methods mentioned above will have lasting effects if you don’t take steps to limit the risk of your number ending up in the wrong hands.

This requires a proactive approach that changes depending on your online habits.

However, it’s not as difficult as it may seem. Take a look for yourself.

Prevent future spam calls by using secondary numbers

You don’t need to make major changes to your habits.

For example, using SMS verification tools when signing up for online services can help reduce the risk of your real number being exposed to spammers.

Here’s a quick overview of your options:

Important: SMS verification numbers can pose serious security risks for sensitive accounts like banking or credit services. Read more about phone number generators.

EXTRA: Stop spam calls on a landline

Setting up your spam defenses on a landline may be a bit more difficult, but it’s not impossible.

For best results, combine our advice from “Section 1” with solutions listed below.

First, determine whether you’re using a VoIP (ISDN) or traditional copper (PTSN) line, as this will affect your available options.

Then, have a look at the table below and pick the most suitable option.

For more information, visit our in-depth guide on how to block a number on a landline.

Here’s why you’re getting so many spam calls

You might be getting so many spam calls because your phone number is circulating among data brokers and spammers.

This often happens if your number was shared or exposed, having been taken from various sources like online accounts, public records, and data breaches.

Here’s a list of potential reasons for spam calls:

• Your phone number was leaked in a data breach
• Your phone number is being sold in scammer groups
• You shared your phone number publicly
• You answered spam calls in the past
• Someone is signing you up for spam calls
• Data brokers are selling your phone number.

Want to see if your number has been leaked?

Go to Have I Been Pwned and run a search using your email address.

Curious exactly why the calls won’t stop? 

Our full breakdown of why random numbers keep calling you covers the dialer feedback loop in detail.

FAQ