Unknown calls are not harmless. First off, there are plenty of calls peddling scams. The most surefire way to not get scammed over the phone is to not pick up those calls. how to block unknown calls

Telemarketing calls, robocalls, and spam calls are more pervasive than ever, with 22 billion robocalls placed in the United States in the past six months alone. And getting constant unwanted calls isn’t just annoying—many of these spam calls are potentially dangerous, as an estimated 19.7 billion USD was lost to phone scams in 2020.

But even if you’re highly aware of scams and won’t get duped, there is another reason to ignore unknown callers. Sometimes a robocall (those dialed automatically by a machine rather than a person) is simply for confirming if a number is in use. By picking up, you’re confirming that your number is valid. This would in theory mean more scams and spam calls coming your way.

There is also a type of scam that targets people who will return a phone call that they’ve missed and wind up making an expensive overseas call by accident. Even the Federal Communications Commission warns against this scam and advises not to answer or return any calls from numbers you don’t recognize.

That said, some research suggests that it doesn’t matter if you answer calls or not. The research, done by the Robocall Observatory at North Carolina State University, found that the weekly volume of robocalls remained constant throughout the study whether answered or not.

But when it comes to whether your privacy and personal data are at risk if you pick up a scam call, it’s highly unlikely, according to Aaron E., the head of cybersecurity at ExpressVPN. “With respect to just answering a telephone call over the main public telephone network, your location should not be divulged unless scammers literally have compromised the cell phone provider,” he says.

What to do if you get an unknown call how to block unknown calls

For starters, some smartphones are equipped with technology that can detect if a call is potentially spam, and they indicate as such when the call comes in. The simplest course is to not answer.

But there might be times when you simply do not want to miss a legitimate call from unknown numbers.

Here are a few other ways to handle unknown calls:

1. Watch out for calls with country codes how to block unknown calls

Unless you’re expecting a call from someone overseas, avoid picking up calls with country codes. These are likely scams.

2. If you do pick up, wait without speaking

The next time you receive an unknown call, just remain silent for a while. Most robocalls don’t immediately “speak” once you’ve picked up the phone. Some play music as if you’re on hold. Just hang up.

Also beware of a scam that tries to record you saying the word “yes,” by asking “Can you hear me?” The aim is to use your voice confirmation for illegal activities.

6 ways to stop spam calls and robocalls

1. Check if your carrier offers a call filter

Your phone service provider may have products available to filter out unwanted calls. In the U.S., carriers with such offerings include T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T, though some of these services may require a fee. Here’s a breakdown of the various filter services offered by carriers:

2. Use a call-blocker app

Call-blocking apps are an efficient way to curtail (or even deter) spam calls. Besides fulfilling their basic promise of blocking unfamiliar calls, each app comes with its own add-ons and features tailored to what you need, whether it’s filtering spam texts too or adding an automated answering message (designed to frustrate scammers). Most of these apps charge a subscription fee. Make sure you do some research before signing up for these apps to ensure they’re serving your needs and can be trusted to use your data wisely. Here are some popular choices:

• RoboKiller

RoboKiller automatically blocks telemarketers and prevents robocalls from ringing, even if these callers spoof their numbers. The app uses voice recognition to detect voice patterns and update their block list almost in real-time. There’s also the Answer Bot feature that takes “revenge” on telemarketers by picking up phone calls and wasting their time. RoboKiller is available at 3.99 USD/month.

• Truecaller

Truecaller is an app that shows users information about callers not in their address book and blocks unwanted calls. The app allows users to search for any name or number so they can block people or organizations easily. Truecaller is available for 10.99 USD/month, with a seven-day free trial.

• YouMail

YouMail is a voicemail app that provides spam filter protection for individuals and businesses. Individuals can get on a free plan that stops scam and spam calls and provides information on blocked calls. A premium plan adds live chat and email support features at 5.99 USD/month.

• Nomorobo

Nomorobo is a no-frills robocall protection service that offers free and unlimited voice-over internet protocols for landlines. Mobile users will have to pay 1.99 USD/month to subscribe to the service through an app. There’s also a 14-day free trial.

• DoNotPay

DoNotPay is a legal services chatbot that lets users file disputes against businesses and individuals. Most recently, the platform launched Robo Revenge, an app that lets users track robocalls and make it easier for them to file claims against scammers. DoNotPay provides users a free virtual credit card that they can share with scammers. Scammers will then attempt to charge the credit card, which in turn helps DoNotPay access the scammer’s information and reveal who they are. Users will receive information about the scammers that they can then use to file claims.

3. Check the built-in features of your phone

You can change the settings on your Apple or Android phone to block calls from unknown callers.

You can also block individual numbers that seem to keep spamming you. Here’s how:

• iPhones

Tap the Phone app, tap Recents, then tap on the Info icon on the number you’d like to block. Once done, select Block this Caller.

• Android

Open Phone app, tap the recent history tab, and tap on the number you want to block. Then, tap Block/Report spam.

4. Don’t give out your number unnecessarily

There are several ways that your phone number could be exposed online, such as listing your phone number on your social media accounts, submitting your number when signing up for things (always read terms and conditions), or having it leaked in a data breach.

Doing a quick search of yourself and your phone number is a good way to figure out how much of your private information is easily accessible online. If it’s listed on a website, you could try sending the site admin a request to remove it. Some social media sign-ups may require your phone number, but you can potentially sidestep this by using a fake number. Some options for acquiring a fake number include Google Voice, using a temporary number app or website, or getting a burner phone number.

5. Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry

The “DO NOT CALL” register is a free public register of telephone numbers of consumers who do not want to receive telemarketing and telesales calls or SMSs and MMSs, which is prescribed by the Consumer Protection Act and all EU countries have this service.

If you’re in the U.S., a free and easy way to filter out telemarketers is by adding your number to the National Do Not Call Registry. This can be done via www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register. You should receive fewer telemarketing calls within 31 days of registering; however, this method does not filter out scammers or unscrupulous companies who ignore the registry.

6. Report spam calls to the Federal Trade Commission (U.S. only)

Besides adding your number to the Do Not Call Registry, people based on the U.S. can also report scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Not based in the U.S.? Check if your local law enforcement agencies have hotlines or sites that allow you to report scams or spam calls. how to block unknown calls