Phone scams are a pervasive issue, with Americans receiving over 52.5 billion robocalls in 2025, averaging roughly 13–15 spam calls per person per month. (antivirus.com) Protecting your family from these intrusions, especially on work phones, requires a multifaceted approach. This guide outlines effective strategies to safeguard your family from phone scams on work phones.
What Are Phone Scams and Why Are They a Concern?
Phone scams involve fraudulent calls designed to deceive individuals into providing personal information, money, or access to their devices. These scams can lead to financial loss, identity theft, and privacy breaches. (whocalledus.net)
How Can Call-Blocking Apps Help Prevent Phone Scams?
Call-blocking apps utilize extensive databases and community reports to identify and block known scam numbers. They can:
- Identify Unknown Callers: Display the name of incoming calls from unknown numbers.
- Block Spam Calls: Automatically block calls flagged as spam or fraud.
- Provide Reverse Number Lookup: Allow users to search for information on unknown numbers. (pdnionline.com)
Top Call-Blocking Apps:
- Truecaller: With over 300 million users, Truecaller offers real-time caller identification and spam blocking. (claritycheck.com)
- Hiya: Powers built-in spam detection on Samsung devices and AT&T phones, offering caller ID, spam detection, and call blocking. (claritycheck.com)
- RoboKiller: Blocks 99% of robocalls and uses AI "Answer Bots" to waste scammers' time. (claritycheck.com)
What Built-in Features Can Help Block Spam Calls?
Both Android and iOS devices come equipped with native features to combat spam calls:
- Android: Google’s Phone app includes a spam detection feature that warns users about potential spam calls. (claritycheck.com)
- iOS: The Silence Unknown Callers feature silences calls from numbers not in your contacts, recent calls, or Siri Suggestions. (claritycheck.com)
How Do Carrier Services Assist in Blocking Spam Calls?
Many mobile carriers offer services to help block spam calls:
- T-Mobile: Scam Shield identifies and blocks suspected spam calls automatically at the network level. (whocalledus.net)
- AT&T: ActiveArmor provides spam call blocking and fraud protection. (whocalledus.net)
What Are the Benefits of Using RoboKiller for Spam Call Protection?
RoboKiller offers several advantages:
- High Blocking Accuracy: Blocks 99% of robocalls. (claritycheck.com)
- Answer Bots: Engages scammers with pre-recorded messages, wasting their time. (claritycheck.com)
- Regular Updates: Spam list updates automatically, ensuring up-to-date protection. (geckoandfly.com)
How Can You Report Spam Calls to Authorities?
Reporting spam calls helps authorities track and combat fraudulent activities:
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): File a complaint at ftccomplaintassistant.gov.
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Report unwanted calls at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.
What Additional Tips Can Help Prevent Phone Scams?
- Do Not Share Personal Information: Avoid sharing sensitive details over the phone.
- Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Calls: Especially those requesting immediate action or payment.
- Educate Family Members: Ensure all family members are aware of common scam tactics.
By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce the risk of phone scams affecting your family on work phones.
Highlights:
- Say goodbye to spam calls - NordVPN launches new spam call protection, Published on Tuesday, July 29
- Your Android phone could soon get a better way to sniff out spoofed calls, Published on Thursday, April 16
