Are you tired of the constant barrage of spam calls? Throughout the COVID-19 epidemic, spam calls and spam texts have been on the rise. Unfortunately, text message spam seems to be on the rise, as many of us have received a barrage of suspicious text messages recently.
The Federal Communications Commission has attempted to crack down on such calls or messages, and federal and state politicians have created laws to deal with the problem. Here are some ways to stop unwanted robocalls and text messages.
How can I stop robocalls and text messages?
You can take specific steps yourself. For example, Android and iPhone devices have built-in features to block specific mobile phone numbers, and mobile operators offer blocking tools.
Hiya, RoboKiller, Truecaller and Call Control are just a few third party apps that are designed to stop sales. Alternatively, you can register your phone number with the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry. However, this will not stop scammers and telemarketers with a dubious reputation from calling you.
Let’s check each option.
Simple hacks to stop unwanted robocalls and text messages
- Do not answer:
A quick and easy solution is to “don’t reply”to the message. By clicking on a link or attachment in a spam message, you can launch malware that can infect your phone. Many legitimate robot texts include the ability to send a “STOP”text message to ask the company to remove you from their mailing list, but this doesn’t work with scammers.
Reacting to a spam message simply shows the scammer that your phone number is legitimate. Your phone number can then be shared with other scammers, increasing your chances of receiving additional spam messages. So you’d better not answer unless you know that the SMS came from a real company that respects such requirements.
- Block phone numbers:
You can block a number that sends you spam calls and messages. iPhone and Android users have a built-in phone number blocking feature.
To block them on your iPhone, open the Phone app and tap Recent. Click the Info icon next to the number you want to block and select “Block this caller”and then “Block contact.”
Open the phone app and tap the info icon next to the number on your Android phone. Steps may vary depending on your phone and OS version. Select the “Block number”option, select “Details”, and then click “Block and report spam”.
The disadvantage of this approach is usually spoofing or switching phone numbers. This way, even if you block the number, you can still receive messages from the same scammer using a different number.
- Report phones:
You can forward the robot text to the specified number to send the report to your mobile operator.
On iPhone, tap on the inappropriate message to do so. Then press “More”and the right arrow to forward it as a new text.
On an Android phone, tap on the message to do so. Then select Forward from the three-dot symbol at the top.
A new message marked “SPAM”should be sent to 7726. This number is valid for AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile, which will use the data to prevent future spam texts.
- Filter spammers:
Enable the built-in spam blocker on your phone; leading mobile operators offer their own filtering and blocking tools for subscribers. For the most part, they are more focused on spam phone calls, but they can also block numbers that try to deliver spam text messages.
You can deactivate all possible spam in the Google Messages app on your Android phone. Go to Settings > Anti-Spam and turn on the Enable Anti-Spam option. If an incoming message is suspected of being spam, your phone will notify you.
Messages from unknown senders can be filtered into their folder in the Messages app on iPhone. Go to Messages > Settings. The Unknown Senders filter must be enabled.
The right tools and tricks to fight spam
The app includes the all-important “CommunityIQ”that compares thousands of community reports and “Do Not Call”complaints to determine if calls are spam.
You can ask the app to reject calls from numbers similar to yours, look up numbers to see if they’re spammers, and even connect a compatible landline to boost your home’s spam protection.
Call Control, available for iOS and Android, uses crowdsourcing to help stop spam calls and deliver verified, quality results.
- AT&T Call Security:
The AT&T app is now available with enhanced Caller ID, Mobile Security and reverse number lookup features.
The firm offers Call Protect, iOS and Android call blocking software for fraud and spam, and AT&T Secure Family, a family app for iOS and Android.
AT&T customers can go to the support page to learn how to restrict calls to different types of phones.
Customers with compatible phones can use the free version of Verizon Wireless Call Screening, but only on postpaid contracts. The free version of the program identifies and filters spam calls.
It warns you when an incoming call might be spam, lets you report unwanted numbers, filters out numbers with your first six digits, and blocks automated calls based on your risk level.
The commercial version of Call Filter adds caller ID, personal junk list and other features. The Call Filter app is available on the App Store for iPhone users. The application must already be installed on your Android smartphone. If not, go to Google Play and get it.
- Hello:
Hiya: Spam Phone Call Blocker, a third party software for iOS and Android, warns you about robocalls and scam calls using a database of known scammers. The application is intended for phone calls related to fraud, illegal activities and telemarketing.
Hiya can detect fake calls with the same first four numbers as your number. Hiya will reveal the source of the phone number and notify you if the number is a suspected spam if you put it in the app. In addition, the program can automatically receive calls from any of your contacts.
The basic version is available for free. There is also a premium version with call filter and other features.
- T-Mobile Fraud Protection:
Scam Shield, a free blocking program from T-Mobile, is available to T-Mobile and Metro subscribers on a postpaid basis. Scam Shield even provides you with an additional proxy phone number when you don’t want to give your regular phone number.
If your regular phone number is used to send spam, you can change it for free once a year. The number of blocked spam calls is stored in the spam counter.
Apps for iOS and Android can detect phishing calls and block them from reaching you. Plus, the improved caller ID feature gives you more information about a call to determine if it’s spam. The number identifies a verified legitimate call tag, and a possible spam call is identified with a warning.
Voicemail-to-text conversion, the ability to create a blacklist, and the ability to send certain types of calls directly to voicemail are all included in Scam Shield Premium.
- Robokiller:
RoboKiller is an iOS and Android app that filters unknown numbers and tries to annoy spammers. The answer bots in the app will automatically answer spam calls with prepared nonsense that annoys users and wastes their time.
You can even program your responses for the bot. The software comes with a database of known spammers, but you can also add specific phone numbers to block.
Conclusion
You can block, filter and report any robocalls and text messages by following any of the ideas in this article. Unfortunately, there is no permanent solution to stop robocalls and text messages. The scammers will get to you one way or another. However, understanding the facts and following certain steps can help you fight sleazy telemarketers.
FAQ
Why am I suddenly getting so many robots?
If you share your details or register on a dubious website with your phone number, this can lead to an increase in spam.
Does *61 block unwanted calls?
To activate call blocking, dial *60 and follow the audio prompts. To add the latest call to the blocked calls list, dial *61. To disable call blocking, dial *80.
What is the best free Robocall call blocker?
Hiya, RoboKiller, Truecaller and Call Blocker are some of the best free robo caller blockers to block spam calls and sample texts.
Can you automatically block robocalls?
Yes, you can automatically prevent spam calls by enabling a spam call filter that will use the Google database to filter out spam calls.