How to Block Spam Calls: 6 Ways to Stop Unwanted Calls

Spam calls are more than an occasional annoyance. Between robocalls, telemarketers, and spoofed numbers, unwanted calls can quickly make it harder to tell which numbers are actually worth answering.

Blocking individual numbers can help, but it only addresses one part of the problem. Your phone already has tools to filter unwanted calls, and wireless carriers and spam-blocking services offer additional options to catch them before they interrupt your day.

Here’s how to block spam calls on iPhone and Android, recognize common spam calls, and reduce how often they reach you in the first place:

What Are Spam Calls?

Spam calls are unwanted phone calls that include unsolicited sales calls, robocalls, and scam attempts. The term covers a range of unwanted calls, but they don’t all come from the same source or have the same intent.

For example, a telemarketing call may simply be trying to sell you something, while a scam call is designed to deceive you into sharing information, sending money, or taking a similar action. Robocalls describe how a call is made, using automated or prerecorded messages, rather than whether the call itself is legitimate. In other words, not every robocall is spam or a scam.

Spam callers may also use caller ID spoofing to make a call appear to come from a local number or familiar name. So while the number or your screen may look familiar, the FTC warns that caller ID information can be faked.

How Do Spam Callers Get Your Number?

Spam callers can get phone numbers in several ways, and your number doesn’t necessarily have to be part of a data breach to end up on a calling list.

Common sources include:

• Data Breaches: A breach can expose phone numbers and other personal information stored by a company or service.
• Automated Dialing: Some callers use technology to dial large groups of phone numbers automatically rather than working from a specific, targeted list.
• Online Forms and Accounts: Phone numbers shared through registrations, purchases, forms, and other online services can spread more easily.
• Publicly Available Information: A phone number posted publicly or included in an online directory can be easier for unwanted callers to find.

Caller ID spoofing can make the problem harder to track. A spam caller can falsify the number displayed on your caller ID, so blocking the number you see doesn’t always block the actual source of the calls.

How Can You Identify a Spam Call?

Not every unfamiliar call is spam, so the phone number alone isn’t always enough to judge it. Instead, pay attention to what the caller says or asks for. Common warning signs include:

• An unexpected request for personal or financial information. Be cautious if a caller asks for account details, passwords, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive information.
• Pressure to act immediately. Scam callers commonly create a sense of urgency to push you into making a decision before you have time to verify what they’re saying.
• Unusual payment requests. Requests for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or certain payment apps are common scams.
• An unsolicited recorded sales message. Many sales robocalls require your written permission before a company can legally contact you.
• An unexpected request from a familiar organization. If something seems unusual, end the call and contact the company through a phone number or website you know is legitimate.

How to Block Spam Calls

There are several ways to block or filter spam calls, and you don’t have to rely on just one. Start with the tools already available on your phone, then consider broader filtering if unwanted calls keep getting through.

Block the Number on Your Phone

Both iPhone and Android let you block individual numbers directly from your recent calls. The exact steps vary slightly by device.

On iPhone:

1. Open the Phone app and tap Recents.
2. Tap the Info button next to the number.
3. Select Block Caller, then confirm.

On Android:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Find the number in your recent calls.
3. Select the option to Block or Report spam. The exact wording and menu may vary by device.

Blocking a number can stop future calls from that specific number, but it won’t necessarily stop the caller from reaching you from another number. That’s where broader filtering can come in useful.

Filter or Silence Unknown Callers

If spam calls are coming from different numbers, your phone’s broader filtering tools may be more useful than blocking each one individually.

iPhone offers options for screening or silencing unknown callers, while supported Android devices can identify or filter suspected spam. Settings vary by device and software version, so check which options are available on your phone.

Keep in mind that filtering unknown numbers may also affect legitimate calls from people who aren’t in your contacts.

Use Your Carrier’s Spam-Blocking Tools

Your wireless carrier may also offer spam detection and call-blocking tools. Depending on the provider and plan, those services can identify suspected spam, label incoming calls, or block certain calls before they reach your phone.

Check your carrier’s current options and settings to see what’s available. Some features may be included with your service, while others require an app or additional subscription.

Use a Spam-Call Blocking Service

Call-blocking services can add another layer of filtering by identifying known or suspected spam numbers before you answer. Features vary, so check whether a service blocks calls automatically, labels them as potential spam, or gives you control over how they’re handled.

Burner includes robocall filtering on new numbers by default and offers Nomorobo Connection for additional spam protection. Nomorobo checks incoming calls against its database of known robocallers and telemarketers, helping filter unwanted calls to Burner numbers.

Add Your Number to the National Do Not Call Registry

Registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry can reduce unwanted sales calls from legitimate telemarketers. Registration is free and doesn’t expire. It won’t stop every unwanted call, as scammers and companies that ignore telemarketing rules may still contact you. That said, you’ll likely need to use it alongside call-blocking and filtering tools.

Be Selective About Sharing Your Personal Number

Blocking tools help after unwanted callers reach you; a second number can give you another option when you need to provide a phone number but would rather not share your personal one.

For example, you might use a second number for online shopping, marketplace conversations, dating apps, account sign-ups, or other situations where you don’t necessarily want the contact tied to your primary number. With Burner, you can keep that number for as long as you need it or delete it when you’re finished.

FAQs About Blocking Spam Calls

Does blocking a spam number stop the calls?

Blocking a number stops calls from that specific number from reaching you normally, but it won’t necessarily stop other spam calls. If unwanted calls are coming from multiple numbers, broader spam filtering may be more effective than blocking each one individually.

Does the Do Not Call Registry stop spam calls?

The National Do Not Call Registry is intended to reduce unwanted sales calls from legitimate telemarketers. It won’t stop scammers or callers that ignore telemarketing rules, so registering your number works best alongside other call-blocking and filtering tools.

Should you answer spam calls?

If you don’t recognize a number, don’t feel like you have to answer it. Legitimate callers can leave a voicemail, and you can verify the call before responding.

Can you block all spam calls?

There’s no guarantee that every spam call will be blocked, regardless of which service you use. Callers can use different numbers, and filtering tools may not identify every unwanted call. Combining your phone’s settings with carrier or third-party filtering can reduce how many get through.

Manage Unwanted Calls with Burner

Spam-blocking tools can help reduce unwanted calls, but you can also be more selective about where you share your personal number to begin with.

Burner gives you a second number for calls and texts while keeping your personal number private. New Burner numbers include robocall filtering by default, with Nomorobo Connection available for additional spam protection. Depending on your plan, you can also access Number Lookup and other privacy tools through Burner.

Get Burner and create your phone’s other number today.