Learn About Ways to Stop Unwanted Calls

Understanding Unwanted Calls and Why They Happen

Unwanted calls have become one of the most common complaints people file with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In 2023, the FTC received over 7.7 million complaints about unwanted calls, far exceeding complaints about any other issue. These calls include robocalls, telemarketing calls, scams, and other unsolicited contact that interrupts your day and can pose safety risks.

Unwanted calls come from various sources. Robocalls use automated technology to dial thousands of numbers at once, often delivering prerecorded messages about products, services, or alleged legal problems. Telemarketing calls try to sell goods or services to consumers. Scam calls impersonate government agencies, banks, or companies to trick people into sharing personal information or money. Other unwanted calls might be survey requests, debt collection attempts, or calls from companies with whom you've done business but haven't agreed to ongoing contact.

The technology behind unwanted calls makes them cheap and easy for callers to send to millions of people. Scammers may spoof phone numbers—making their call appear to come from a local number or trusted organization even though it doesn't. This makes people more likely to answer. Robocalls can cost callers almost nothing to send, so even when only a tiny percentage of recipients respond, the effort is profitable for callers.

Understanding where unwanted calls originate helps explain why they're so common and why stopping them requires multiple approaches. No single solution blocks all unwanted calls, but combining several methods can reduce how many you receive.

Practical Takeaway: Recognizing that unwanted calls are a widespread problem with multiple sources means you'll need to use several tools and strategies together rather than relying on one solution.

Phone-Level Tools and Settings to Block Calls

Your smartphone likely has built-in features designed to reduce unwanted calls. Most iPhones and Android phones allow you to silence calls from unknown numbers, block specific callers, and report spam calls. Learning to use these features costs nothing and takes just minutes to set up.

On iPhones, the "Silence Unknown Callers" feature sends calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail. To turn this on, go to Settings, select Phone, and toggle on "Silence Unknown Callers." This stops your phone from ringing for unknown numbers while still allowing voicemail messages. You can check voicemail later to see if the call was important. The downside is that legitimate callers you don't know—like doctors' offices or delivery services—will also go to voicemail.

Android phones offer similar functionality. You can block numbers directly through the Phone app by tapping a call in your call log, selecting the number, and choosing "Block." Many Android devices also have a "Spam Protection" or "Call Screen" feature that automatically identifies suspected spam calls. On Google Pixel phones, Call Screen shows you a transcript of what a caller is saying before you decide whether to answer.

For both iPhone and Android users, reporting spam calls to your phone helps your carrier identify patterns. When you report a call as spam, that information goes to your service provider and helps them train their systems to recognize similar calls. You can typically report spam by selecting a call and choosing "Report Spam" or tapping the information icon next to a call.

Another option is creating a contact list of approved callers. Some phones allow you to set rules so only contacts can reach you, with others hearing an automated message. This is more restrictive but works well if you receive extremely high volumes of unwanted calls.

Practical Takeaway: Spend 10 minutes setting up your phone's built-in blocking and reporting features, then add numbers to your blocklist as you identify unwanted callers. This foundation stops many—though not all—unwanted calls.

Third-Party Call Blocking Apps and Services

Beyond your phone's built-in tools, third-party apps and carrier services offer additional blocking options. These work by comparing incoming calls against databases of known spam and scam numbers. Some are free; others charge monthly fees. Understanding the different types helps you choose what might work for your situation.

Popular free apps include RoboKiller, Nomorobo, and TrueCaller. RoboKiller uses artificial intelligence to identify robocalls and can answer calls with a bot that confuses scammers. Nomorobo maintains a large database of known spam numbers and blocks calls before they ring your phone. TrueCaller identifies unknown numbers and shows caller information. These apps typically require permission to access your phone's call log and contacts, which they use to improve their blocking databases.

Many phone carriers offer call-blocking services as part of their plans or as add-ons. Verizon offers Call Filter, AT&T offers Call Protect, T-Mobile offers Scam Shield, and other carriers have similar services. Some include basic protections free; others charge $2.99 to $4.99 monthly for enhanced features. Carrier-level blocking happens before calls reach your phone, which can be more effective than app-based blocking.

When evaluating call-blocking services, consider how they identify spam. The best services use multiple methods: comparing numbers against known spam databases, analyzing calling patterns (like many calls from one number in a short time), and using machine learning to spot suspicious behavior. Some services also let you customize blocking rules, such as blocking all international numbers or all numbers from specific area codes.

One limitation of third-party services is that they can occasionally block legitimate calls. For example, a service might block a doctor's office if that office's number matches patterns associated with spam. Most services let you whitelist numbers (mark them as safe) or review blocked calls to restore ones you want to receive.

Practical Takeaway: Try your phone's built-in features first, then add a carrier service or free app if you're still receiving many unwanted calls. You don't need multiple services—combining one app with your phone's settings typically provides enough protection.

Do Not Call Registries and Telemarketing Rules

The National Do Not Call Registry, operated by the FTC, lets you add your phone number to a list that telemarketers must respect. Registering is free, and your number stays on the list permanently. You can register online at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register.

The Do Not Call Registry covers telemarketing calls but not all unwanted calls. Legitimate telemarketers (calling about products and services) must honor the registry within 31 days of your registration. Calls from charities, political organizations, surveys, and companies with which you've done business in the past year are not covered by the registry, though many stop calling if you ask.

If a telemarketer calls you after your number has been on the registry for 31 days, you can file a complaint with the FTC. The FTC investigates patterns of violations rather than individual calls, so one unwanted call isn't investigated, but if the same company calls many people who registered, action may follow. You can file complaints at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by phone at 1-888-382-1222.

Beyond the Do Not Call Registry, telemarketing is governed by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). This law requires telemarketers to maintain do-not-call lists, identify themselves and their company, provide valid callback numbers, avoid calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., and obtain prior express written consent before using automatic dialing systems or prerecorded messages to call cell phones.

If telemarketers violate these rules repeatedly, you may have legal options. Many people affected by TCPA violations have participated in class-action lawsuits. Consulting with an attorney who handles consumer protection cases can show whether you have a claim worth pursuing.

Practical Takeaway: Register your phone number on the Do Not Call Registry if you receive many telemarketing calls, and file complaints about repeated violations from the same company to help the FTC track bad actors.

Strategies for Handling Scam and Robocalls

Scam calls and robocalls require different approaches than telemarking calls because they often don't follow legal rules. Scammers frequently ignore Do Not Call registries and use spoofed numbers