How to Stop Robocalls and Spam Calls

1. 1

   Step 1 of 5: Register on the Do Not Call List

   The National Do Not Call Registry is your first line of defense against legitimate telemarketers.

   • Online: Register for free at donotcall.gov
   • By phone: Call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want to register

   Registration is free, permanent, and telemarketers must stop calling within 31 days. The registry currently has over 258 million active registrations.

   Limitation: Scammers Don't Follow the Rules

   The Do Not Call Registry only stops legitimate telemarketers. Scammers, political organizations, charities, and survey companies are either exempt or simply ignore the list. You'll need additional tools for comprehensive protection.

2. 2

   Step 2 of 5: Activate Your Carrier's Free Spam Protection

   All major carriers offer free call-blocking tools. Activate yours now if you haven't already.

   T-Mobile: Scam Shield

   • Free for all customers — includes Scam Likely identification, Scam Block, and callback protection
   • Activate Scam Block instantly by dialing #662#

   Verizon: Call Filter

   • Free tier screens incoming calls and blocks high-risk spam to voicemail
   • Call Filter Plus ($3.99/month) adds caller ID, spam risk meter, and category-based blocking

   AT&T: ActiveArmor

   • Free automatic fraud blocking and suspected spam alerts through the ActiveArmor app
   • Dial *61 after an unwanted call to block that specific number
3. 3

   Step 3 of 5: Use a Call-Blocking App

   For stronger protection, add a dedicated call-blocking app:

   • Truecaller — Caller ID and spam detection with 450M+ monthly users and a massive community-driven spam database. Free basic plan; premium at $9.99/month.
   • Hiya — AI-powered voice fraud detection with real-time alerts and neighborhood spoofing detection. Free basic; $3.99/month premium.
   • RoboKiller — Uses audio fingerprinting and machine learning across 1.4 billion analyzed calls. Features "Answer Bots" that waste scammers' time.
   • YouMail — Call blocking plus voicemail management. Uses a "disconnected number" trick that reduces spam over time. Plans from $7.99/month.

   Built-In Phone Features

   • iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers to send unknown numbers to voicemail
   • Android: Open the Phone app > Settings > Caller ID & Spam for automatic filtering
4. 4

   Step 4 of 5: Report Robocalls

   Reporting helps enforcement agencies track down and shut down illegal callers.

   • FTC: Report unwanted calls at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC has filed 173 lawsuits against robocallers and collected nearly $400 million in penalties.
   • FCC: File complaints at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. In August 2025, the FCC shut down 1,388 phone companies not complying with robocall laws.
   • Your carrier: Forward spam text messages to 7726 (spells "SPAM") to help your carrier identify and block spam numbers.
5. 5

   Step 5 of 5: Cut Off the Source — Remove Your Phone Number From Data Brokers

   Here's what most guides don't tell you: robocallers get your phone number from data brokers. People-search sites like WhitePages, Spokeo, and TruePeopleSearch publish your phone number publicly, and scammers scrape these sites for targets.

   Removing your phone number from data broker sites is one of the most effective long-term strategies for reducing unwanted calls. When your number isn't publicly available, it's harder for scammers to find it.

   Why Data Removal Reduces Spam Calls

   Data brokers sell and publish personal phone numbers that robocallers harvest in bulk. By removing your number from these databases, you reduce your exposure to new spam campaigns at the source — not just by blocking individual calls after they reach you.

Additional Tips

• Don't answer unknown numbers. If it's important, they'll leave a voicemail.
• Never press a button or say "yes" during a suspected robocall. This confirms your number is active.
• Be cautious with your phone number online. Don't enter it on forms, sweepstakes, or apps unless absolutely necessary.
• Use a secondary number for online forms and sign-ups. Google Voice offers free phone numbers.

The Complete Solution

PrivacyOn removes your phone number and other personal information from 100+ data broker sites — cutting off the supply of your data to robocallers, scammers, and telemarketers at the source. Combined with the carrier tools and apps above, this multi-layered approach provides the most effective defense against unwanted calls.