1. Why Are Spam Calls So Common?
Spam calls exploded in the United States because they are extremely cheap to make. A scammer using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) can dial thousands of numbers per hour for almost nothing. They also use caller ID spoofing to make their call appear to come from a local number or even a government agency.
The FTC and FCC have put laws in place (like the TRACED Act of 2019) to fight robocalls, but enforcement is difficult when callers operate overseas. The best defense is to take action yourself using the steps below.
The FTC received over 1.8 million do-not-call complaints in 2024. The most reported scam types are impostor calls, warranty scams, and student loan fraud.
2. Register for the National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry is a free service run by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). When you register your phone number, legitimate telemarketers are legally required to stop calling you within 31 days.
â How to Register (Takes 2 Minutes)
- Visit donotcall.gov (official FTC website)
- Click "Register Your Phone"
- Enter your phone number and email address
- Check your email and click the confirmation link
- Your number is registered â registration never expires
Important: The Do Not Call list only stops legal telemarketers. Scammers and overseas robocallers ignore the list entirely. That is why you also need the steps below.
3. How to Block Spam Calls on iPhone
Apple has built-in features that make it much easier to deal with spam calls on iOS.
Method A: Silence Unknown Callers (iOS 13+)
- Open Settings on your iPhone
- Scroll down and tap Phone
- Tap Silence Unknown Callers
- Toggle it ON
âšī¸ Calls from numbers not in your contacts, recent calls, or Siri suggestions will be silenced and sent to voicemail.
Method B: Block a Specific Number
- Open the Phone app and go to Recents
- Tap the âšī¸ icon next to the spam number
- Scroll down and tap Block this Caller
- Tap Block Contact to confirm
Method C: Enable Caller ID & Spam Protection
Download a call protection app (see Section 6) and enable it under Settings â Phone â Call Blocking & Identification. This allows the app to automatically flag or block known spam numbers.
4. How to Block Spam Calls on Android
Android (especially Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy) has strong built-in spam protection.
Method A: Google Phone App (Built-In Spam Filter)
- Open the Phone app
- Tap the three-dot menu (top right)
- Tap Settings â Spam and Call Screen
- Enable See caller & spam ID
- Enable Filter spam calls to automatically block them
Method B: Block a Specific Number
- Open the Phone app and go to Recents
- Long-press the spam number
- Tap Block / report spam
- Check the box to report as spam, then tap Block
5. Free Tools from Your Phone Carrier
All major US carriers offer free spam call protection â most people don't know about it.
Free app + network-level blocking. Download the AT&T ActiveArmor app from the App Store or Google Play.
Free basic spam detection built into the Verizon app. Enable it in My Verizon â Account â Call Filter.
Free Scam Likely warnings on caller ID. Download the T-Mobile app and activate Scam Shield for free.
Identifies and blocks suspected spam calls automatically at the network level.
6. Best Call-Blocking Apps in 2025
Third-party apps use crowdsourced databases and AI to identify spam calls before you even pick up.
Hiya
One of the largest spam number databases. Works on both iPhone and Android. Trusted by AT&T as the backbone for ActiveArmor.
Nomorobo
Award-winning service that won the FTC's Robocall Challenge. Excellent for landlines and mobile phones.
RoboKiller
Blocks 99% of robocalls and can even waste scammers' time with AI "Answer Bots".
YouMail
Combines voicemail, caller ID, and spam blocking. Especially useful if you want a visual voicemail replacement.
Call Control
Community-powered blocklist with over 1 billion blocked numbers. Great free tier for basic protection.
7. How to Report Spam Calls to the FTC
Reporting spam calls helps the FTC identify and take down scam operations. Your report directly feeds data to law enforcement investigations.
đ How to File an FTC Complaint
- Go to reportfraud.ftc.gov (official FTC reporting page)
- Select "Unwanted calls, emails, and texts"
- Fill in the phone number, date, and what was said
- Submit the report â it takes about 2 minutes
You can also call 1-888-382-1222 to report by phone (TTY: 1-866-290-4236).
8. Most Common Phone Scams in the USA (2025)
Knowing what scams are active helps you recognize them immediately. Never share personal information or money over the phone unless you initiated the call.
IRS / Social Security Impersonation
HIGH RISKCallers claim you owe back taxes or your SSN was "suspended". The government never calls to demand immediate payment by gift card or wire transfer.
Tech Support Scams
HIGH RISKFake Microsoft/Apple calls say your computer has a virus. They want remote access to your device. Never give anyone remote access unless you called them first.
Sweepstakes / Lottery Scams
COMMONYou've won a prize you never entered! They ask for an "processing fee" to release your winnings. Real lotteries never ask for payment upfront.
Medicare / Health Insurance
COMMONScammers offer fake health plans or request your Medicare number. Your Medicare number is as sensitive as your credit card number.
Student Loan Forgiveness
GROWINGCalls offer to cancel your student loans for an upfront fee. Official loan forgiveness programs never charge a fee.
Vehicle Warranty
VERY COMMON"Your vehicle warranty is about to expire." These calls are almost always scams trying to collect your credit card details.
9. Extra Tips to Stay Safe from Spam Calls
This confirms your number is active and can result in even more calls.
Let unfamiliar numbers go to voicemail. Legitimate callers will leave a message.
Search the number here before calling back â we show spam reports and user comments.
Every online form, app, or store loyalty card is a potential source of telemarketer lists.
Apps like Google Voice give you a free US number to use for forms and websites.
New iOS and Android versions often include improved spam detection and security patches.
Got a suspicious call?
Look up any phone number instantly â see spam reports and user comments for free.
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