How to Stop Spam Calls on Android: All You Need

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Overview
What’s a Spam Call?
How Spammers Get Hold of Your Phone Number
How to Tell if a Call Is Spam
How to Stop Your Android Phone From Getting Spam Calls
Extra Tips to Prevent Spam Calls
How can you stop spam calls on Android permanently?
How do spammers get your cell phone number?
Can I block spammers the same way I block other callers?
Can Phone by Google detect spam calls?
Is there a way to see who’s calling before picking up the phone?
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How to Stop Spam Calls on Android: References

Scammers are constantly innovating new techniques for making spam calls as cell phones continue to shape and improve our culture. They’re annoying, potentially harmful, and here to stay for the foreseeable future. The good news, however, is that you can take measures to prevent scammers and spammers from accessing your phone or bank information. This article covers actionable steps to help you stop and avoid potentially harmful scams and spam calls on Android.

Overview

Using the “Phone by Google” app is the easiest way to stop spam calls. Most of the time, it can tell who is calling spam and block calls it thinks are spam. However, the feature needs to be turned on using the following steps. Open the Phone by Google app and tap the menu button with three dots. Then go to Settings > Caller ID and spam. Turn on See caller and spam ID and Filter spam calls.

What’s a Spam Call?

Spam calls are unwanted calls that come from an unknown source to a large number of people. Spam phone calls usually try to trick you into giving them money or personal information. Some types of spam calls are telemarketing, robocalls, spoofing, and IRS and insurance scams.

In general, you’ll get fewer spam calls the less you interact with spam. If you answer a spam call, your number could be added to a list of numbers that are often picked up, answered, or fooled by scams. Fraudsters may then try to call these numbers more often because they think they are most likely to give out sensitive information, whether on purpose or by accident.

How Spammers Get Hold of Your Phone Number

There are lots of ways for spammers to get your phone number. Some common ways are to set up fake charities that ask for money or hold contests or giveaways. They might even be able to get your number from places that have caller IDs. Telemarketers are a common type of spammer. They buy lists of phone numbers from third-party data providers. So, be careful about who you give your phone number to.

Also, it’s important to know what kinds of calls are spam. Aside from sales calls from telemarketers, spam calls can also be robocalls or scam calls from people pretending to be from a bank or a computer company and asking for personal information like credit card numbers. If you get one of these calls, you should be careful and not give out any personal information.

How to Tell if a Call Is Spam

The first thing you need to do to avoid spam calls is to learn how to spot them. Most of the time, the term refers to annoying calls made to a large number of people from unknown numbers. Spam calls are often used to pull off scams. This can be done with pre-recorded messages and technology that makes calls automatically (robocalls).

Spam calls often look like they are coming from local numbers because they copy your area code and sometimes the first three digits of your phone number. This method called “caller ID spoofing,” lets spammers hide their phone numbers by making them look like any other number, even the number of a business you know and trust. Once they have you on the phone, they might make up a stressful situation to get personal information like account numbers and passwords out of you.

It’s not always spam when you receive a call from an unknown number, but it can be hard to tell from your caller ID alone. If you don’t recognize the number or your screen says something like “Spam Likely,” don’t pick up the phone.

How to Stop Your Android Phone From Getting Spam Calls

The best way to stay safe from scams is to keep your phone from ringing with spam calls in the first place. There are a few effective ways to stop spam calls from getting through to your Android phone.

Signing up for the National Do Not Call Registry is one way to stop getting calls you don’t want. The FTC is in charge of this database, and telemarketers aren’t allowed to call the numbers on it. If marketers don’t follow the rules of the Do Not Call Registry, they will get fined a lot and be punished in other ways.

How to Get Your Number on the Registry

You can add your phone number to the Do Not Call Registry in a few ways:

Register your home or cell phone at DoNotCall.gov.
Call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want to register (TTY: 1-866-290-4236)
Once your number is on the Do Not Call Registry, it will stay there as long as you own it. You don’t have to renew your registration in the future.

There Are Some Limits to the Do Not Call List

Unfortunately, the Do Not Call Registry doesn’t stop spam and can only do so much. It only applies to real telemarketing calls, which are not the main enemy in the war on spam. If you’re on the Do Not Call Registry and get a call from what seems to be a legitimate company, it’s probably a scam.

#2. Block Spam Calls on Android Through Your Phone Company

Your phone company may also have a way to block spam calls. Usually, you can do this by dialing a number or using a spam blocker that is built into your phone company. Here’s how to stop spam calls on Android through three of the biggest mobile carriers:

T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s Scam Block can be turned on by dialing #662#. It blocks numbers that show up as “Scam Likely.”
T-Mobile Scam Shield can help.

AT&T

To turn on Call Screening on your landline, dial *60. To block the last number that called you on your landline, dial *61 and then press the call button.
Enter *77 on your landline phone to stop getting calls from private numbers (callers without caller ID).

Verizon

Dial *60 or *80 on your landline to turn on Call Block (dial 1160 or 1180 on rotary or pulse-dialing phones) and follow the voice-recorded instructions to manage your blocklist.
Use the Verizon Call Filter

#3. Block Specific Phone Numbers

If you’ve been contacted by a spammer, block them right away. Here’s how to stop certain phone numbers from ringing on an Android phone:

Start up the Phone app.
Click on the three dots.
Click Call Log
Tap the number you’d like to block.
Tap Block spam and report it

Unfortunately, this is not the best way to deal with spam calls that keep coming in. Spammers easily and often change their phone numbers, so they can always call you from a different one.

#4. Block Unknown Calls to Your Android Smartphone

You can also filter your calls so that only the people you want to talk to can get through. Here’s how to block all calls from people you don’t know on your Android phone:

Start up the Phone app.
Click on the three dots.
Click Settings.
Click on Blocked numbers.
Switch on Unknown.

With this feature, you can block calls from people who aren’t on your list of contacts. But if they are not in your phonebook, you could accidentally block important calls from your doctor or your child’s school.

Android devices have a bit more variety than iPhones, which are pretty simple. The basic ways to block numbers and stop spam are similar, but different types of Android phones may need slightly different steps. Let’s find out how to block calls on some of the most common Android devices.

Block Numbers on Google Pixel devices

The ways to block spam calls on Android may be a little different from one device to the next, but they are all pretty easy. Here’s how to block calls from people you don’t know on your Google Pixel:

Start up the Phone app.
Click on the three dots.
Click on Settings
Tap Spam and Call Screen
Click Screen Settings
Use the menu to modify the kinds of calls that are screened.

If you want to block a certain number on your Google Pixel:

Start up the Phone app.
Click on the three dots.
Click Settings, then click Blocked Numbers.
Tap “Add a number” and type in the number you want to block.

You can also just tap and hold the number in your call history and then tap Block/report spam. This way, you can block the number and report it all at once.

Block Numbers on Samsung phones

Smart Call is a feature on Samsung phones that lets you block calls from people you don’t want to talk to. Setting up Smart Call on your Pixel is a lot like setting up call screening. Here’s how you can do it on your Samsung:

Start up the Phone app.
Click on the three dots.
Tap Settings, then tap Caller ID and spam protection.
To start the service, flip the switch.
If you turn this feature on, you’ll be able to block and report calls as they come in.

You can also block calls from specific numbers from people who have already tried to reach you. Follow these steps to block a number from your Samsung device’s Phone app:

Start up the Phone app.
Click on the three dots.
Click Settings.
Tap “Block numbers”
To add a number to your Block list, tap the plus sign.

You can block numbers from your call log on Samsung phones, just like you can on Google Pixel phones. Tap the number in the Recents tab, then tap Details, and then tap Block.

#5. Use an Android App to Block Spam Calls

There are built-in features on Android phones that can help you cut down on spam and scam calls, but none of them are perfect. If they aren’t blocking spam calls, you may need to use a different kind of Android app. Unlike the features that come with your device, third-party spam blockers were made to find and block unwanted calls. Before spammers call your phone, these apps stop them. This keeps you and your family safe from annoying callers and dangerous scams. There are many spam blockers for Android, so compare your options to find the one that works best for you.

#6. Reporting Spam Calls to Authorities

The bad news is that you have to receive a spam call in order to report it to the authorities; the good news, however, is that doing so can help protect others. By informing the appropriate government agencies about spam calls, you help hold the scammers accountable.

Complaints to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

You can report spam calls and other fraud to the FTC by visiting ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to find out who is behind the scams and to file claims against them.

Complaints to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

You can also report spam calls to the FCC online. Just enter some basic information, choose Unwanted Calls/Messages from the drop-down menu, and then fill out the form to file a complaint.

Extra Tips to Prevent Spam Calls

Learning how to stop spam calls on Android is an ongoing process. The more tools you have in your anti-spam toolbox, the better you can protect yourself, your family, and others from dangerous spam and scams. Here are a few extra tips to prevent spam calls.

#1. Don’t pick up the phone when it rings.

Don’t pick up the phone if it’s from a number you don’t know. If it’s important, the caller will leave a voicemail or text you. If the call seems to be from a real business, call them back at a number that is available to the public.

#2. Be careful about giving out your phone number.

Think before you share personal information online or add your phone number to your social media profiles. This only makes it easier for spammers to find your number, sell it to other scammers, and bombard your phone with spam calls.

#3. Don’t answer calls from spammers.

It may be tempting to answer a spam call and give the spammer a piece of your mind, but that type of revenge can come back to haunt you. Answering a spam call confirms that the caller found an active number, which may lead to more spam in the future. The same goes for spam texts; don’t answer them, even if you think you’re just opting out of a mailing list.

How can you stop spam calls on Android permanently?

Although there are measures you can take to reduce spam calls, such as joining the Do Not Call Registry and blocking individual numbers, the best way to eliminate them altogether is to download a robocall blocker app. Robokiller uses predictive algorithms to stop 99% of spam calls from reaching your phone.

How do spammers get your cell phone number?

Scammers can find your cell phone number in a number of ways, including online information that is available to the public, data breaches, surveys, bought lists, and even random automated dialers. Don’t give out your phone number online, and make sure your social media settings give you a lot of privacy.

Can I block spammers the same way I block other callers?

You can, but if you do it the old way, it might take a lot of work. Spammers are good at making up fake phone numbers and usually have a lot of lines to use. They only have to call from a different number and most of the time they do. This means you have to stop them using other methods.

Can Phone by Google detect spam calls?

The Phone by Google app does a pretty good job of detecting businesses and possible spam calls. It will tell you what it knows about calls that come in. It can also help you filter these spam calls. That said, no service is perfect, and some spammers may get through.

Is there a way to see who’s calling before picking up the phone?

This is not a very common feature yet, but Google has given Pixel users in some markets the ability to screen calls before answering. This feature will answer your phone calls, ask who is calling, and ask why they are calling. Before picking up, the user can look at all of this information.