The truth about spam calls: 5 proven methods to stop spam calls for good

Spam and robocalls steal your time, make you feel exposed, and can even threaten your security. Learn five proven, practical ways to stop getting spam calls and block robocalls so that you can finally enjoy peace of mind.

When you sign up for a product or a service, your personal data, including your phone number, may enter the online circulation. Though you certainly don’t want your phone to be welcoming to all kinds of spam. Spam and robocalls steal your time, make you feel exposed, and can even threaten your security. And you shouldn’t tense, get suspicious, or annoyed whenever your phone rings.

Once made public, your phone number now lives in data broker databases and can be collected, traded, or sold with other personal data. That’s why blocking individual numbers will rarely solve the problem on its own.

The good news is you can take back control. Below, we outline five proven, practical ways to stop getting spam calls and block robocalls so that you can finally enjoy peace of mind.

What really stops robocalls long-term

None of these tools is a one-size-fits-all solution, but when they work together, spam calls can drop significantly over time.

1. Remove your number from data broker and marketing databases

As we already mentioned above, data broker websites collect and sell personal information, which includes your phone number. It can be easily accessed by a wide range of advertisers, lead generators, list resellers, and even scammers and identity thieves. Those lists can also be copied and fed into robocall systems.

And that’s how you end up on a spam call list.

Of course, blocking calls is vital and helpful, but as long as your number stays in those databases, new callers will keep finding you.

You have two options:

Manual data removal

• Find your number on people-search sites’ listings (you can start by googling yourself)
• Submit opt-out forms
• Send ID verification repeatedly
• Recheck every few months

It works, but it’s time-consuming. Data can easily resurface after some time, so it’s really a never-ending task. Also, an individual may not be able to access non-public databases.

Using a data removal service (recommended)

Online privacy has become a significant issue, prompting specialized data removal services. They send legally backed removal requests to hundreds of data brokers and marketing databases on your behalf. After that, they can monitor the web for any reappearing information and automatically repeat requests.

This is a long-term reduction strategy – the best option if you’re wondering how to make your number private.

2. Turn on your phone’s built-in robocalls blocker

Whenever privacy is at risk, you need every means of protection. Robocall blockers that phones come with may not be ideal, but they constitute your first line of defense, the immediate filter.

How to stop spam calls on iOS

Apple allows you to screen or silence unknown callers, filter unknown callers, and silence spam callers.

To silence unknown callers:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Apps
3. Tap Phone or FaceTime
   • Phone: Scroll to Screen Unknown Callers, select Never, Ask Reason for Calling, or Silence
   • FaceTime: Tap Silence Unknown Callers

To filter unknown callers:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Apps
3. Tap Phone or FaceTime
4. For both: scroll down to Call Filtering
5. Turn on Unknown Callers. Missed calls and voicemails from unknown numbers will be moved to your Unknown Callers list.
6. To see the list, tap the Filter button, then tap Unknown Callers, then Recents or Calls.

To silence spam callers:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap Apps
3. Tap Phone or FaceTime
4. Scroll down to Call Filtering and turn on the spam filter
   • Phone: Tap to turn on Spam. Suspicious calls will be silenced, sent to voicemail, and moved to your Spam list.
   • FaceTime: Tap to turn on FaceTime Spam. Suspicious calls will be silenced and moved to your Spam list.
5. To see your list, tap the Filter button, then Spam, then Recents or Calls.

How to stop spam calls on Android

Google provides the following features: Caller ID & Spam Protection, Caller ID announcement, mark calls as spam, and verify or share caller ID.

To turn on Caller ID & Spam Protection:

1. Open the Phone app
2. See More options
3. Go to Settings
4. Tap Caller ID and spam
5. Turn See caller ID & spam on
   • Optional: To block spam calls, you can turn on Filter spam calls. They will only appear in your call history and voicemail.
   • Note: Some devices have an automatic Call Screen feature instead of the Filter spam calls option.

To turn on Caller ID Announcement:

1. Open the Phone app
2. See More Options
3. Go to Settings
4. Tap Caller ID announcement
5. Choose Announce caller ID
6. Choose Always, Only when using a headset, or Never

To mark calls as spam:

1. Open the Phone app
2. Tap Home at the bottom
3. Choose the call you want to report
4. Tap Block or Report spam
   • Note: You can also tap and hold the call, then tap Block or Report spam.

To verify or share the caller ID:

1. Open the Phone app
2. Tap Home
3. Tap Was this a business? or Caller ID feedback, then follow the instructions
4. Tap Submit
   • If you find that the caller isn’t a business, the information won’t be sent to Google.
   • The information you submit won’t reveal any personal data.
   • You can include a business name or its category. It will be displayed on incoming calls. It can also help others learn more about the business, school, or organization calling.
   • You can change your selection after submitting by going to the Home tab, tapping and holding the call you want to use, then selecting Send feedback again.

3. Join the National Do Not Call Registry

The Do Not Call Registry won’t stop criminals, but it can significantly reduce legal marketing noise.

The registry, operated by the Federal Trade Commission, allows consumers to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls.

• You can register both your home and mobile phone numbers.
• It’s free.
• Other types of organizations may still call you. These include political groups, charities, and debt collectors.
• If you receive an unwanted call AFTER registration, you can report it to the FTC.

4. Block repeat numbers and masked calls

If you receive a No Caller ID call, it means the caller is hiding their identity. It is a common robocall tactic linked to data-broker-sourced numbers.

Blocking won’t stop all robocalls, but it can minimize repeat harassment.

For iOS, go to Recent call, tap the Information symbol, and choose Block this Caller.

For Android, go to Call log, choose a number, then tap Block/Report Spam.

5. Use a reputable spam calls blocker app

The Federal Trade Commission recommends layered robocall defenses. A specialized app may be an additional layer of protection.

A strong spam call blocker app:

• stops a lot of calls before your phone rings,
• uses spam databases,
• tracks and flags scam patterns in real time.

Make sure to find an app that is frequently updated and transparent about how it handles your data.

FAQ

How do I stop robocalls?

To stop robocalls, it’s best to ensure your number isn't easily found online. Robocall systems dial numbers from marketing lists and data broker databases. If your number is on any such list, calls will continue to come in even if you block individual callers.

The most effective approach is layered:

• Remove your number from data brokers and marketing databases
• Use your phone’s built-in filter
• Register on the national Do Not Call list
• Block spamming numbers
• Use a reliable call-blocking app

This works because it addresses issues at every step of data circulation.

Why am I suddenly getting so many spam calls?

A sudden rise in spam calls probably means that your phone number was added to a new database. This can happen after a data breach, answering one spam call, or if you share it with a business that trades such data. Once your number is on a list, it will be quickly resold, leaving you vulnerable to spam, scams, and cybercrime.

How to stop robocalls on a landline

You can’t install any apps on a landline, but there are ways to protect it. In addition to removing it from the databases, as described above, you can contact your phone provider. Many of them offer built-in blocking or call-labeling services, often at no extra cost. There are also physical devices that plug into your landline and filter unwanted calls, as well as anonymous call rejection features. Registering on the Do Not Call registry may be additional help in reducing legal telemarketing.

Spam calls: You’re not powerless

Most people focus on blocking incoming calls. While it’s essential, it won’t stop new spam calls.

You now know where spam calls come from, how to filter them, and how to build your own system of protection. Start with removing your number from broker databases – that’s the step that will change the most. The most effective approach is to work with a reputable data removal service.

For a full breakdown of how to stop spam calls, that’s your foundation.

Regain control of your phone and protect your peace of mind.