How to stop spam risk calls
The phone rings. It’s an incoming call from an unfamiliar number with the caller ID showing Spam risk — “Not again!” you think. We understand the headache.
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. A carrier provider uses machine learning to identify spam and scam-likely calls and lets you know.
Updated: September 29, 2023
How to stop spam risk calls – a quick summary:
- Be mindful of where you leave your data
- Don’t answer spam risk calls
- Register your number on the Do Not Call list
- Watch out for familiar numbers
- Get a spam-filtering app
- Leverage the blocking features of your OS
Keep reading to learn more about stopping spam risk calls.
Be mindful of where you leave your data
Your phone number is a valuable piece of personal information that can easily be misused if shared carelessly. Be cautious when signing up for online services, entering giveaways, or providing your number on websites. If you’re unsure about a site’s privacy practices, consider using an alternative number or a number generator to keep your real number private. By being selective about where you share your phone number, you can significantly reduce the chances of receiving unwanted spam calls.
Don’t answer spam risk calls
The spammers use computers with auto-dialers to call 209–0000, 209–0001, 209–0002, 209–0003, and so on. Unanswered calls are deemed inactive and are blocked. If someone answers, the spammer knows the number is active, and there is potential for more spam.
Register your number on the Do Not Call list
Even if you’re not using a landline, you can opt out of sales calls and robocalls by registering to the FTCs do not call Registry. It will dissuade any opportunistic salespeople since calling after you’ve registered is illegal.
As FTC puts it: The Registry is a list that tells telemarketers what numbers not to call. The FTC does not and cannot block calls. The Registry can’t stop calls from scammers who ignore the Registry.
It won’t stop all spam, but it should lessen the load. Here is what to do if if a scammer has your phone number.
Watch out for familiar numbers
Some fraud callers use spoofed IDs. It means a scammer changed their number to one you are more willing to answer. Some scammers believe people are more inclined to respond if the unknown call comes from a place they live at.
Some scams are even nastier; they use social engineering — they find out the phone numbers of the people close to you. Then they copy it, change the last digits, and call you, hoping you will mistakenly think it’s a relative calling you.
That’s how some scammers dupe people into picking up a call from an unknown number.
Get a spam-filtering app
Since most spammers automize their spam and spread it in bulk by using robocalls, the best option is to get a third-party app that blocks them in your stead. The more popular Android and iOS apps to filter, show caller ID, and/or block spam calls are:
Most operate similarly: once a call reaches you, the app runs the caller’s number against your contacts, personal files, and a database of scam-related numbers and looks for a match. If found in the latter, the call is automatically blocked or sent to voicemail, depending on your preferred settings.
Note: such third-party apps need to access your contacts and other personal information, so be sure to check out the privacy policies of such service providers.
Leverage the blocking features of your OS
Many Androids have different default block settings found in your phone dial app. As a general rule, you should first try fiddling around there. But there’s an option with more customizability.
Stop spam calls on iOS
Begin with getting a call filtering app:
- Visit the App Store and download a spam call detection app;
- Go to Settings → Phone → Call Blocking & Identification;
- Turn the app on or off under Allow These Apps To Block Calls And Provide Caller ID.
Bolster the defense against the dark arts of call scams:
Turn on the Silence Unknown Callers option (only available on iOS). To do so, go to Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers and toggle the feature.
It blocks all the callers you had no contact with before and have yet to save in your contacts list. But there are exceptions to what unknown call numbers get through.
If you’ve sent a text to an unsaved phone number or if there’s one in an email, the phone calls from those numbers will go through (unless manually blocked). Blocking a number may be a nuclear option, but one you should know about nonetheless.
Block a caller on iPhone manually
Go to phone → Recents → tap on the i symbol on the right of the number and tap the Block this caller option at the end of the list.
What to do if you answered a call
Be cautious. If you pick up the phone, let them speak first. There are two options for what kind of a call you just got – an automated one or a vishing attempt (a form of phishing).
When it’s an automated call
Your answers are probably being recorded, so don’t say anything and hang up. Even a simple “Yes” or “No” can be used against you. If it was a legit institution or a business calling you, look for their official number on the web and call them to ask if a call was issued. If not — block the number that just called you.
When it’s a live call scam – vishing
The scammers might try to pull a scam and say they’re from a national organization or an institution you trust, like the IRS. They WILL ask for personal details — that is their most common MO.
Remember, no official organization will ever ask you to provide sensitive details, and it’s their job to know. Hang up the phone and call the institution using their official number.
If you notice that it’s a scam call, whatever you do, and no matter how tempting, resist the urge to mess with or prank the scammers. The risk of them recording your voice or trying to track you through your service provider is too high.
Note: picking up a scam call shows the con artists your number is active, and your number could be subjected to more spam calls.
Closing thoughts
When personal info is mismanaged, one should expect marketing or scam calls. So, be wary of who you give your data to and how you do it.
But the prime reason for the spam coming in bulk is automation — robocalls used by telemarketers and scammers alike. As the saying goes — fight fire with fire. Get an automized third-party assistant that would block spam phone calls for you, hopefully, not at the expense of your data.
Remember, be cautious and critical, and spread the good word to others!
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 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 robocalls?
- How to stop Medicare calls?
Not exactly what you’re looking for? We’ve organized all our articles about stopping spam here.
FAQ
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 registers your number as active. That means it’s prime for more spam. Try blocking the number and registering yourself on the national do not call registry.
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.
