You know the drill. You're in the middle of something important, your phone rings, and it's some random number you don't recognize. You answer it anyway because what if it's important? Nope. It's someone trying to sell you an extended warranty for a car you don't own, or worse, trying to scam you.
Spam calls are annoying, but here's the thing—there are actual ways to reduce them, and there are also a lot of scams out there that promise to help but will just take your money. Let's talk about what actually works.
Why You're Getting So Many
First, let's understand why this is happening. Spam calls have exploded in recent years because it's incredibly cheap and easy for scammers to make them. They use auto-dialers that can call thousands of numbers per hour, and thanks to spoofing technology, they can make it look like the call is coming from anywhere—even your own area code.
Your number probably got on a list because you filled out some form online, entered a contest, or your information got leaked in a data breach. Once you're on a list, that list gets sold and resold. It's a whole industry, unfortunately.
Important: Legitimate companies have to honor the Do Not Call Registry. But scammers? They don't care. That's why you still get calls even if you're registered.
Free Solutions That Actually Work
Before you pay anyone anything, try these free options. They won't eliminate every single spam call (nothing will), but they'll cut down on most of them.
Use Your Carrier's Built-In Tools
Most major carriers offer free spam call blocking. Verizon has Call Filter, AT&T has Call Protect, T-Mobile has Scam Shield. These are usually free for basic protection, and they work pretty well because they have access to databases of known spam numbers.
To turn these on, just go to your carrier's website or app and look for spam protection or call blocking. Some carriers even let you block calls that aren't in your contacts, though that might be too aggressive for most people.
Pro tip: Enable "Silence Unknown Callers" on iPhone or "Block Unknown Callers" on Android if you're okay with only getting calls from people in your contacts. Real callers will leave a voicemail if it's important.
Sign Up for the Do Not Call Registry
Go to donotcall.gov and add your number. It's free and takes about 30 seconds. This won't stop scammers, but it should stop legitimate telemarketers. If you're still getting calls from legitimate companies after 31 days, you can file a complaint.
Your registration never expires, so you only need to do it once. Just remember that political calls, surveys, and charities are exempt from the registry, so you'll still get those.
Try Call Blocking Apps (Carefully)
Apps like Truecaller, Hiya, and RoboKiller can help identify and block spam calls. Many have free versions that work well enough. They work by maintaining databases of reported spam numbers and using caller ID to warn you about suspicious calls.
The catch? Some of these apps share your contact list (that's how they build their database). If you're not comfortable with that, stick with your carrier's built-in tools. Also, read the reviews—some apps are better than others, and some free apps are basically just ads.
What NOT to Do (Avoid the Scams)
Here's where it gets tricky. There are a lot of scams that specifically target people who are frustrated with spam calls. Watch out for these:
Don't Pay for "Guaranteed" Spam Protection
If someone calls you promising to stop all spam calls for a fee, that's a scam. Legitimate services don't work that way, and no one can guarantee they'll stop all spam calls. They're probably just going to take your money and your number might even end up on more lists.
Don't Press Numbers to "Remove" Yourself
When you get a spam call and they say "press 1 to be removed from our list," don't do it. All that does is confirm your number is active, which means you'll get even more calls. Just hang up.
Don't Give Out Personal Information
Real companies already have your information if they're calling you. If someone asks you to "verify" your Social Security number, bank account, or anything else, it's a scam. Hang up immediately.
Advanced Tips
If you've tried the basics and you're still getting hammered, here are some more aggressive tactics:
Use a Second Number for Online Forms
Get a Google Voice number or use a service that gives you a disposable number. Use that for signing up for stuff online, and keep your real number for people you actually know.
Answer and Immediately Hang Up
Some spam callers remove numbers that don't answer from their lists. If you pick up and immediately hang up without saying anything, they might mark you as a non-working number. This doesn't always work, but it's worth a try.
Report Repeated Offenders
If you keep getting calls from the same number, report it to the FTC and your carrier. While it won't stop that specific number (they can just get a new one), it helps build cases against persistent scammers.
When Blocking Works and When It Doesn't
Here's the reality: no solution will stop 100% of spam calls. Scammers are constantly changing tactics. But good blocking can reduce spam calls by 70-90%, which makes a huge difference.
The most effective approach is to use multiple layers: your carrier's tools, maybe a call blocking app, and being smart about where you give out your number. The combination works much better than relying on just one thing.
Also, remember that some calls that seem like spam might actually be important—like calls from doctors' offices, delivery services, or job interviews. That's why most blocking services identify suspicious calls rather than blocking them entirely, so you can decide.
Bottom Line
Spam calls are annoying, but there are real ways to fight back. Start with the free stuff: your carrier's built-in spam protection, the Do Not Call Registry, and maybe a reputable call blocking app. Combine these, and you'll see a noticeable difference.
Most importantly, don't fall for scams that promise to fix everything for a fee. If someone calls you promising to stop spam calls, that's probably a spam call itself. Use the free tools, be smart about where you share your number, and remember that some spam is just unavoidable—but you can definitely reduce it significantly.