Effective Strategies to Reduce Unwanted Calls on Your Personal Phone

Unwanted calls, such as spam, robocalls, and telemarketing solicitations, can disrupt your daily life and pose privacy risks. Fortunately, there are several effective strategies to reduce these interruptions on your personal phone.

How Can You Block Calls from Unknown Numbers?

On iPhone:

iOS offers a built-in feature to silence calls from unknown numbers:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Phone.
3. Select Silence Unknown Callers.
4. Toggle the switch to On.

This setting sends calls from numbers not in your contacts directly to voicemail, reducing interruptions. (makeuseof.com)

On Android:

Android devices also provide options to block unknown callers:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon and select Settings.
3. Go to Blocked Numbers.
4. Enable Block Calls from Unknown Numbers.

This feature prevents calls from unidentified numbers from ringing your phone. (howtogeek.com)

What Are Carrier-Based Call Blocking Services?

Many mobile carriers offer services to filter out spam and robocalls:

• Verizon: Provides Call Filter, which identifies and blocks potential spam calls.
• AT&T: Offers Call Protect, screening incoming calls for potential fraud.
• T-Mobile: Features Scam Shield, which includes scam call blocking and caller ID.

These services often require activation and may have associated costs. (consumersearch.com)

How Do Third-Party Apps Help in Blocking Unwanted Calls?

Third-party applications can enhance call blocking capabilities:

• Truecaller: Identifies and blocks spam calls using a large database of known spammers.
• Hiya: Offers real-time spam detection and blocking features.

These apps require installation and may request access to your contacts and call logs. (makeuseof.com)

What Is the National Do Not Call Registry?

Registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry can reduce telemarketing calls:

• Registration: Visit the National Do Not Call Registry website to add your number.
• Reporting Violations: Report unwanted calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

While this can decrease legitimate telemarketing calls, it may not stop illegal scammers. (consumer.ftc.gov)

How Can You Manually Block Specific Numbers?

Blocking individual numbers can prevent repeat unwanted calls:

On iPhone:

1. Open the Phone app and go to Recents.
2. Tap the i icon next to the number.
3. Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.

On Android:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon and select Settings.
3. Go to Blocked Numbers.
4. Add the number you wish to block.

This method is effective for persistent unwanted callers. (us.norton.com)

What Are Some Safe Habits to Adopt?

Practicing cautious habits can further reduce unwanted calls:

• Avoid Answering Unknown Numbers: Let unfamiliar calls go to voicemail.
• Do Not Share Personal Information: Never provide personal details over the phone unless you're certain of the caller's identity.
• Regularly Review Call Logs: Monitor your call history for unfamiliar numbers.

By combining these strategies, you can significantly reduce unwanted calls and protect your privacy.

Highlights:

• How to Block All Spam Calls on Your Phone | McAfee, Published on Saturday, November 22
• How to block spam calls on iPhone, Android, and landlines, Published on Wednesday, January 07
• The Best Ways to Block Robocalls - Consumer Reports