How to block spam calls

Some scam calls are worse than others; in certain cases, they may be a simple salesperson that you didn’t authorize to contact you. In others, there could be much more sinister intentions at play – just as the 68 million Americans who lost $29 billion to scam callers in 2022 alone. Preventing spam calls is crucial for maintaining your peace of mind and personal security but it can be a lot more complex than expected.

The rise and fall of spam calls

When telemarketing became common practice in the 1970s, the floodgates opened. Back then, Caller ID wasn’t yet invented, so no one ever knew who was calling them. This dynamic made it easy for marketers to sneak onto the phone lines with “potential clients” and try to make a sale.

As spam-calling technology has gotten more advanced, it’s getting harder and harder to avoid these predatory calls. At the same time, calls are getting exponentially more dangerous in today’s landscape. Instead of trying to sell a product, callers are often trying to collect sensitive information or exploit their victims in some way. Some even pose as government officials or law enforcement to pressure people into sending large sums of money to unknown accounts.

Government Intervention on Spam Calls

Both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have been taking action to reduce the number of spam calls Americans are receiving. Now, robocalling and unsolicited telemarketing are both illegal, and victims can actually sue robocallers that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make calls.

Despite concerted government efforts to reduce spam calls, many people are still getting them regularly. If that’s a reality for you, it may be time to take matters into your own hands.

First Line of Defense

There are a few things you can do before looking for third-party applications to block spam calls, such as:

Do Not Call Registry

By registering your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, you can reduce the number of calls you get from law-abiding telemarketers. This list tells legitimate businesses what numbers not to call, but it won’t stop illegal scammers from spam-calling you.

Mobile Carrier Tools

Most major mobile carriers offer their customers tools to prevent unwanted phone calls. For instance, AT&T has a tool called ActiveArmor and T-Mobile uses Scam Shield to identify and weed out spam calls. These services are usually provided at free and premium service levels, with an additional charge for more robust protections.

Manual Blocking

In the same way that you’d block the number of a clingy ex, you can manually block the numbers used by spam callers. This, of course, is pretty time-consuming. Since most scammers use number-hiding technology or spoof numbers, this is a less effective approach than other solutions.

4 Apps for Blocking Spam Calls

If the Do Not Call Registry and manual blocking just aren’t cutting it, try one of these 5 apps to block spam calls.

RoboKiller

Not only does RoboKiller stop spam calls from disrupting your day, but it also throws scammers for a bit of a ride. By answering spam calls with pre-recorded jibberish, this application wastes the scammer’s time just like they were going to waste yours. With a free 7-day trial, RoboKiller lets you experience all it has to offer before deciding if you want the Lite, Standard, or Premium package.

TrueCaller

With its own database of common spam numbers, TrueCaller blocks calls and text messages alike. If there are unfamiliar numbers that won’t leave you alone, you can add those numbers to the application’s database as well. The basic version of TrueCaller is free, but the premium contract is only $1.99 per month.

Nomorobo

With over 2 million users and 10 years of experience, Nomorobo has one of the largest databases of robocaller information. Additionally, Nomorobo works well with smartphones and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) landlines. Although you’ll no longer get calls from neighbor spoofing scammers – ones that use numbers that are eerily similar to your own – sophisticated phone scams may still slip through from time to time.

Hiya

With a unique approach, Hiya taps into your device’s location information so it doesn’t accidentally block calls from local businesses or individuals. There’s a small chance that this approach could result in scammers that use number spoofing or local area codes getting through to you. However, Hiya’s protections also work internationally, making it a great service for those who travel or live abroad.

Summary:

• Spam calls are a major issue in the US and across the globe. More than 50 billion robocalls are made each year, leading to significant financial losses in many cases.
• The FCC and FTC have been working diligently to stop spam calls, pass legislation to hold scammers accountable, and protect consumers, but unfortunately, spam calls continue to be an issue.
• You can take a few basic steps to block spam calls – like registering your number with the Do Not Call Registry and talking to your mobile carrier about their services – but most of the time you’ll need to do more to get ahead of illegal scammers.
• Applications like RoboKiller, TrueCaller, and Aura are more advanced spam-blocking technologies. With a range of plans and protection levels, finding the perfect one for your situation is easy.

References:

• www.whistleout.com
• www.telecompetitor.com
• www.pcmag.com/
• www.npr.org
• consumer.ftc.gov
• consumer.ftc.gov/
• www.truecaller.com
• blog.youmail.com
• fcc.gov