Understanding the Spam Call Epidemic
Americans received over 50 billion spam calls in 2025, making spam calls one of the most persistent annoyances of modern life. But you don't have to accept them as inevitable. With the right strategies and tools, you can dramatically reduce or eliminate spam calls entirely.
Immediate Actions: Stop Spam Calls Right Now
1. Register with the National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry is a free service managed by the Federal Trade Commission:
- Visit donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222
- Register all your phone numbers (landline and mobile)
- Registration is permanent and free
- Legitimate telemarketers must check the list every 31 days
Important Note: This stops legal telemarketers but doesn't stop illegal scam calls. You'll need additional strategies for those.
2. Enable Built-In Spam Protection
For iPhone Users (iOS 18)
- Go to Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers
- Toggle ON to send all unknown numbers to voicemail
- Important calls from numbers in your contacts will still ring through
- Calls from numbers you've recently called will also ring through
For Android Users
- Open the Phone app
- Tap the three dots → Settings
- Select Spam and Call Screen
- Enable Filter spam calls
- Turn on See caller & spam ID
3. Contact Your Phone Carrier
All major carriers now offer spam blocking services:
AT&T
- AT&T ActiveArmor: Free spam blocking
- Dial *#7726# to report spam
- Download the AT&T Call Protect app
Verizon
- Call Filter: Basic free version, premium for $2.99/month
- Automatically blocks high-risk calls
- Shows spam risk level for incoming calls
T-Mobile
- Scam Shield: Free spam protection included
- Automatically enabled for all customers
- Download Scam Shield app for enhanced features
Advanced Strategies for Maximum Protection
Install a Dedicated Call-Blocking App
Third-party apps provide superior spam protection with community-powered databases:
RoboKiller ($4.99/month)
- Blocks 99% of spam calls using AI
- Answer Bots waste scammers' time
- Extensive spam number database
- Works on both iOS and Android
Nomorobo (Free for VoIP, $1.99/month for mobile)
- Simultaneously rings your phone and Nomorobo's server
- If identified as robocall, immediately hangs up
- Minimal disruption to legitimate calls
Truecaller (Free with premium option)
- Crowd-sourced spam identification
- Over 300 million users reporting spam
- Real-time caller ID
- Automatic call blocking
Create a "Whitelist" System
The nuclear option for spam calls:
- Save all legitimate contacts in your phone
- Enable "Silence Unknown Callers" (iPhone) or similar (Android)
- All calls from numbers not in your contacts go to voicemail
- Check voicemail periodically for legitimate calls
Long-Term Prevention: Stop Spam at the Source
Protect Your Phone Number
Preventing your number from getting on spam lists in the first place:
Never Share Your Number Publicly
- Don't post it on social media
- Avoid online forms that don't need it
- Use a secondary number for online shopping
- Read privacy policies before sharing
Use a Google Voice Number
- Get a free secondary number from Google
- Give this out instead of your real number
- Powerful spam filtering built-in
- Easy to change if it gets compromised
Opt Out of Data Broker Listings
Data brokers sell your information to telemarketers. Opt out from major brokers:
- Whitepages: whitepages.com/suppression
- Spokeo: spokeo.com/optout
- BeenVerified: beenverified.com/faq/opt-out
- PeopleFinder: peoplefinders.com/opt-out
Be Smart About Forms and Surveys
- Read the fine print about marketing consent
- Uncheck pre-checked boxes for promotional calls
- Use a burner email and phone number when possible
- Never fill out sketchy online forms
Handling Spam Calls That Get Through
The Golden Rules
- Never answer unknown numbers: Let them go to voicemail
- Never press any buttons: Even "Press 1 to be removed" confirms your number is active
- Never engage: Talking to scammers, even to yell at them, wastes your time
- Always hang up immediately: Don't give them a chance to manipulate you
Block and Report
Every spam call you receive:
- Block the number in your phone
- Report to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint
- Report to your carrier (text "SPAM" to 7726)
- Report in your call-blocking app
Special Cases: What About Important Calls?
Medical and School Calls
If you're expecting calls from hospitals, schools, or doctors:
- Save their numbers in advance
- Ask them to leave voicemail
- Set up a temporary whitelist exception
- Use conditional call forwarding
Job Hunting
When you're job searching and need to answer unknown numbers:
- Temporarily disable strict call blocking
- Check caller ID before answering
- Let unknown calls go to voicemail first
- Re-enable blocking after securing a job
Why These Strategies Work
Spam callers rely on volume. They make thousands of calls hoping to reach a few victims. When you implement these strategies, you:
- Remove your number from spam lists
- Make it unprofitable for scammers to call you
- Protect yourself from increasingly sophisticated scams
- Take back control of your phone
The Results You Can Expect
Following this complete guide, most people see:
- Week 1: 50-70% reduction in spam calls
- Month 1: 80-90% reduction
- Month 3: 95%+ reduction, with only occasional breakthrough calls
Final Thoughts
Stopping spam calls forever requires a multi-layered approach combining government registries, carrier services, third-party apps, and smart personal habits. While no solution is 100% perfect, implementing even half of these strategies will dramatically improve your phone experience. Start with the immediate actions today, then gradually implement the long-term prevention strategies. Your future self will thank you for the peace and quiet.