The Ultimate Spam Call and Text Blocker Guide for iPhone and Android

Spam calls and texts can be super frustrating, and it's great that you're looking for a solution.

You can block unwanted calls and texts on your iPhone by going to Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts, where you can add numbers to block.

According to the article, over 4 billion robocalls were made in the US in 2020 alone, making it a significant problem for many people.

To block spam calls on Android, go to Settings > Call settings > Spam detection, where you can customize your spam filter.

The article also mentions that many phone carriers offer built-in spam call and text blocking features, which can be a convenient option for those who want a simple solution.

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Many US mobile network carriers offer spam call-blocking services to their customers, so it's worth checking with your provider to see what options are available.

You can also block numbers using the call-blocking feature on your phone, which is a good temporary solution to lessen the number of spam calls you receive. Open your recent calls, click the info of the suspected caller, and choose to block them.

If you need more robust robotext filtering, consider checking out third-party apps like SpamHound, SMS Spam Stopper, RoboKiller, and TextKiller, which can give you more control over blocking spammers.

The SMS Spam Stopper app, designed for iOS, uses artificial intelligence to detect spam messages and can be configured to block texts from any number not in your contacts. You can also set up allowed words, blocked words, and blocked phone numbers to further control and filter out likely spam messages.

TextKiller, another iPhone app, looks for certain words and terms to determine which texts are spam, and you can assist it by labeling spam messages to help it learn from your actions. The basic version is free but limited, while the premium edition costs $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year with a free one-week trial.

Apple has added a feature to automatically silence spam calls, which can be enabled by going to Settings > Phone and toggling on Silence Unknown Callers. However, this feature has some caveats, such as silencing calls from unknown numbers that aren't saved to your contacts list.

To block calls, open the Phone app, go to the Recents tab, and find the number you want to block, then tap the Info button and select Block Caller. You can also block FaceTime by going through the same process in the FaceTime app.

If this caught your attention, see: Threatening Text Messages from Unknown Number

Blocking individual numbers is a straightforward process that can be done on most phones. You can start by opening the Phone app and selecting the Recents tab.

To block a number, tap the avatar of the caller you want to block, then tap the three-dot icon in the top right and select Block numbers. This will give you the option to report the number as spam and block it.

If you're with T-Mobile, you can also use #662# to block all suspected spam calls on your Android phone. This is a convenient option if you're getting a lot of spam calls.

You can also block a number from the Messages app, Contacts, or other ways. However, it's worth noting that your iPhone may automatically filter some numbers you don't have saved in your contacts list and allow them to go through.

To block a number on an iPhone, open your recent calls, click the info of the suspected caller, and choose to block them. This will temporarily reduce the number of spam calls you receive.

For your interest: Free Spam Text Blocker

Here's a quick guide to blocking individual numbers on your phone:

Open the Phone app and select the Recents tab.Tap the avatar of the caller you want to block.Tap the three-dot icon in the top right and select Block numbers.Select the box Report as spam, then tap Block to confirm.

For another approach, see: How Can I See the Text Messages from Another Phone

Using third-party apps to block spam calls and texts is a great way to take control of your phone experience. One of the most popular options is Hiya, which can be installed on your iPhone or Android device.

Some other notable apps include Robocall Blocker, Robokiller, and Truecaller, each with its own method of stopping spam calls. Before downloading any app, always check the reviews and choose one from a reputable developer to help avoid malware.

If you're an iPhone user, you can also try Mr. Number, which is free to use and allows you to block calls from one person, an area code, or an entire country. AT&T Call Protect and Verizon Call Filter are also great options, but may require a phone plan with a specific carrier.

Worth a look: Free Text Apps for Iphone

Here are some of the most popular third-party apps for blocking spam calls and texts:

These apps can be a great addition to the built-in features on your phone, and can help you take back control of your phone experience.

You can leverage your phone's native features to filter out unwanted messages and calls. To filter messages from unknown phone numbers, go to Settings > Messages, then turn the Filter Unknown Senders toggle on.

This will cut down on the notification blitz from numbers you don't know, and you can still access those messages in the Messages app.

On an Android phone, you can disable all potential spam messages from Google's Messages app by turning on the Enable spam protection switch in Messages Settings.

On an iPhone, you can turn on the switch next to Filter Unknown Senders in Settings > Messages to filter messages from unknown senders into their own folder.

For another approach, see: Samsung Group Text Settings

Here are the native features and services offered by the top US mobile carriers to block spam calls and texts:

These features can also identify and block spam messages in much the same way email providers try to stop spam email.

A fresh viewpoint: Spam Texts from Email Addresses

On iOS (iPad), you can use Apple's built-in Messages app to filter out spam messages. To do this, open Settings > Messages, and then turn on the switch next to Filter Unknown Senders.

This will filter messages from unknown senders into their own folder within the Apple Messages app. The iOS app SpamHound SMS Spam Filter also works with the Messages app to filter out SMS spam based on keywords and other factors.

SpamHound can become your default SMS app for sending and receiving texts on your iOS device. It automatically displays past text messages and provides easy access to your contacts.

To fine-tune SpamHound’s powers of deduction, you’re encouraged to create blacklist and whitelist rules for what you want to block or allow.

A unique perspective: Apple Spam Text

On T-Mobile, you can detect and block high-risk spam calls using a feature that filters out unwanted calls.

T-Mobile customers can also activate the caller ID and spam protection feature in their phone settings.

This feature helps to identify and prevent robocalls from reaching your phone, giving you more control over your call experience.

Unfortunately, I don't have personal experience with T-Mobile's services, but I can tell you that their features are designed to help you manage unwanted calls.

To get started, simply check your phone settings to see if this feature is available to you.

Discover more: T-mobile Spam Text 7726

You can filter unwanted calls on your Android phone using the Caller ID and spam protection feature. This is a free tool that's built into the Phone app.

To access this feature, open the Phone app and tap the three-dot icon in the top right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.

Under the Assistive settings, tap Caller ID & spam. Toggle See caller and spam ID to the right. This will show you the caller's name and number, as well as any spam indicators.

Next, toggle Filter spam calls to the right. This will automatically block suspected spam calls. The calls blocked by this method will not appear as missed calls, but will instead appear in Call History or if the caller leaves a voicemail.

If you want to block a specific number, you can do so by opening your recent calls, clicking the info of the suspected caller, and choosing to block them.

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Scams are designed to trick you into providing sensitive information and giving out money. They often employ robocalls to reach as many people as possible.

A spam call is an unwanted call from someone who is not on your contact list that intentionally misleads you. Scam callers will pretend to call you about various topics, such as health insurance, debt consolidation, or IRS tax fraud.

Here are some common scam topics that serve to confuse you:

Remember, no company will ever reach out to you by phone nor will they ask for personal information, so be cautious if someone calls you with a suspicious offer.

T-Mobile offers a free app called Scam Shield that can help stop spam calls. It's available to T-Mobile customers and works on both Android and iOS devices.

Scam Shield can block a range of spam-risk calls, including telemarketing and robocalls. This can be a huge relief for people who are tired of receiving unwanted calls.

The app is a valuable tool in the fight against scams, but it's not a foolproof solution. Spammers often use different phone numbers to get around blocking efforts.

There are several types of scams to be aware of. Robocalls and spam calls are two common types of scams.

A robocall is an automated call with a prerecorded message, and they're not always nefarious. Many companies use robocalls to send reminders to their customers, saving employees time.

Scam callers, on the other hand, make unwanted calls to trick people into providing sensitive information or giving out money. They often use robocalls to reach as many people as possible.

Some common topics scam callers use to trick people include health insurance, debt consolidation, loan repayment, IRS tax fraud, travel, warranty or recalls for a product you own, and customer care from a well-known company.

You may also receive a spoofing call, which pretends to be a familiar number. This can be an area code you're familiar with, or a number that looks eerily close to your own or one of your contacts.

Here are some examples of scam topics:

If you fall for a scam, you could end up losing thousands of dollars. Scammers often use fake websites and email addresses that look almost identical to legitimate ones.

Your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card details, can be stolen and used for identity theft. This is a common tactic used by scammers to gain access to your sensitive data.

You may be contacted by the scammer multiple times, even after you've reported them to the authorities. Scammers often use automated systems to send follow-up messages, hoping to wear you down into giving in.

In some cases, you may be asked to pay a fee to recover your money, which is actually just another scam. This is known as a "recovery scam" and it's a common ploy used by scammers to get more money out of you.

The longer you take to report a scam, the harder it can be to recover your losses. This is why it's essential to act quickly if you suspect you've been scammed.

For another approach, see: Recover Deleted Text Messages Verizon