How To Stop Spam Calls on iPhone

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How To Stop Spam Calls on iPhone – Spam calls have become an increasingly frustrating issue for iPhone users.

These unwanted and often annoying calls can disrupt our daily lives and compromise our privacy. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to stop spam calls on your iPhone.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various strategies and techniques to help you regain control over your phone and enjoy a spam-free experience.

Understanding the Anatomy of Spam Calls

Before delving into the solutions, it’s essential to understand what spam calls are and how they work. Having this knowledge will help you better appreciate the methods we will discuss later on.

What are Spam Calls?

Spam calls, also known as nuisance or unsolicited calls, are calls that you receive from unknown or unwanted sources. These calls often aim to promote products or services, carry out scams, or collect personal information.

How Do Spam Calls Occur?

Understanding how spam calls occur can be vital in preventing them. These calls are typically generated using automated dialing systems that can call multiple numbers simultaneously. The goal is to reach as many potential targets as possible.

The Impact of Spam Calls

Spam calls can have several adverse effects, such as:

  1. Annoyance: Constant spam calls can be incredibly irritating and disrupt your daily life.
  2. Privacy Invasion: Some spam calls may attempt to collect your personal information or engage in identity theft.
  3. Financial Scams: Scammers can use spam calls to deceive you into giving them money or sensitive financial information.

Now that we have a better understanding of spam calls, let’s move on to the strategies to stop them.

Method 1: Enable Silence Unknown Callers

One of the most straightforward ways to minimize spam calls on your iPhone is by enabling the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature. This feature ensures that calls from unknown numbers do not disturb you.

How to Enable Silence Unknown Callers:

  1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap on “Phone.”
  3. Find the “Silence Unknown Callers” option and toggle it on.

Once activated, your iPhone will automatically send calls from numbers not in your Contacts, Mail, or Messages to voicemail.

Method 2: Use Third-Party Call Blocking Apps

Several third-party call blocking apps are available on the App Store, specifically designed to identify and block spam calls. These apps use extensive databases and algorithms to filter out unwanted calls.

  1. Truecaller: Truecaller is a widely used app known for its efficient spam call identification and blocking capabilities.
  2. Nomorobo: Nomorobo is another app that can effectively block spam calls and robocalls.
  3. Hiya: Hiya offers spam call protection along with a caller ID feature.

Download and install one of these apps from the App Store, and follow the app’s instructions to set it up and start blocking spam calls.

Method 3: Create a Custom Contacts List

You can proactively manage and block spam calls by creating a custom contacts list. This list should include the phone numbers of known spammers and telemarketers.

How to Create a Custom Contacts List:

  1. Open the “Contacts” app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the “+” icon to add a new contact.
  3. Name the contact something like “Spam Caller” or “Telemarketer.”
  4. Enter the phone number you want to block in the contact’s details.
  5. Save the contact.

Once you’ve created this list, you can use it to block calls from specific numbers.

Method 4: Report Spam Calls to Apple

Apple provides a mechanism for users to report spam calls directly. When you report a spam call, Apple can take action to prevent that number from bothering other iPhone users.

How to Report a Spam Call to Apple:

  1. Open the “Phone” app.
  2. Go to the “Recents” tab.
  3. Find the spam call in your call history.
  4. Tap the “i” icon next to the call.
  5. Scroll down and tap “Report Junk.”

By reporting spam calls, you contribute to a collective effort to reduce spam calls across the iPhone user community.

Method 5: Use Do Not Disturb Mode

The “Do Not Disturb” mode is a versatile tool that can help you avoid spam calls during specific times or from specific contacts.

How to Use Do Not Disturb Mode for Spam Calls:

  1. Open the “Settings” app.
  2. Scroll down and tap “Do Not Disturb.”
  3. Customize your settings to allow calls from your contacts while silencing all other calls.

This feature is handy when you want uninterrupted time or peace during important meetings or sleep.

Method 6: Block Callers Manually

For those annoying spam callers who manage to get through, you can manually block them.

How to Manually Block a Caller:

  1. Open the “Phone” app.
  2. Go to the “Recents” tab.
  3. Find the spam call in your call history.
  4. Tap the “i” icon next to the call.
  5. Scroll down and tap “Block this Caller.”

Blocking a caller ensures that you won’t receive calls, messages, or FaceTime calls from that number.

Method 7: Avoid Answering Unknown Numbers

A simple but effective strategy to combat spam calls is to avoid answering calls from unknown numbers. If it’s essential, the caller will leave a voicemail, and you can return the call later.

Method 8: Register on the National Do Not Call Registry

In the United States, you can register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. This step won’t stop all spam calls, but it can reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive.

How to Register on the National Do Not Call Registry:

  1. Visit the official website: https://www.donotcall.gov/.
  2. Click on “Register Your Phone.”
  3. Follow the instructions to add your phone number to the registry.

Remember that it may take up to 31 days for the registration to take full effect.

Method 9: Use Call Screening (iOS 13 and later)

If you have an iPhone running iOS 13 or later, you can take advantage of the built-in call screening feature. This feature helps you identify and manage incoming calls better.

How to Use Call Screening:

  1. When you receive a call, tap the “Decline” button.
  2. You can then choose to send the caller to voicemail or label the call as “Remind Me Later.”

This feature can help you screen out unwanted calls without answering them.

Method 10: Set Up Conditional Call Forwarding

Conditional call forwarding allows you to divert calls from specific numbers to another number, such as your voicemail.

How to Set Up Conditional Call Forwarding:

  1. Open the “Phone” app.
  2. Tap “Call Forwarding” in the settings.
  3. Enter the phone number for forwarding.

When you receive calls from spam numbers, they will be automatically forwarded to the number you specified.

Method 11: Update Your iOS Software

Apple regularly releases software updates that include improvements to call blocking and spam call identification. Ensure your iPhone is running the latest iOS version to benefit from these enhancements.

How to Update Your iOS Software:

  1. Open the “Settings” app.
  2. Go to “General.”
  3. Tap “Software Update” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Method 12: Use a Call Blocking Service from Your Carrier

Some mobile carriers offer call blocking services that can help identify and block spam calls. Contact your carrier to inquire about such services and their availability for your plan.

Method 13: Be Cautious with Third-Party Apps

While third-party apps can be helpful, exercise caution when downloading and using them. Ensure you read reviews and research the app’s reputation before granting it access to your contacts and call history.

Method 14: Educate Yourself About Common Scams

Being aware of common phone scams can help you recognize and avoid falling victim to them. Educate yourself and your loved ones about prevalent phone scams and their tactics.

Method 15: Use VoIP Services

Consider using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services like Skype, WhatsApp, or Google Voice for communication. These services often have better spam call filtering capabilities.

Method 16: Disable Personalized Suggestions

Apple’s iOS provides personalized suggestions for unknown callers based on data from your emails and messages. You can choose to disable this feature to enhance privacy.

How to Disable Personalized Suggestions:

  1. Open the “Settings” app.
  2. Go to “Phone.”
  3. Disable the “Emails & Messages” option under “Call Silencing and Blocked Contacts.”

Method 17: Reset All Settings

If you’re still receiving a high volume of spam calls and suspect that there may be an issue with your iPhone’s settings, you can try resetting all settings to default.

How to Reset All Settings:

  1. Open the “Settings” app.
  2. Go to “General.”
  3. Scroll down and tap “Reset.”
  4. Choose “Reset All Settings” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Keep in mind that this will reset all your settings, including Wi-Fi passwords and display settings.

Method 18: Contact Your Carrier

If all else fails, contact your mobile carrier’s customer support and inquire about additional options or services they may offer to combat spam calls.

In some cases, spam calls can escalate to harassment or fraud. If you believe you are a victim of such activities, consider seeking legal assistance or filing a complaint with relevant authorities.

Method 20: Stay Informed and Be Vigilant

Spam call tactics are constantly evolving, so it’s essential to stay informed about the latest scams and techniques. Being vigilant and cautious is your best defense against spam calls.

Conclusion

Spam calls can be a significant annoyance, but with the right strategies and tools, you can effectively stop them on your iPhone. From enabling “Silence Unknown Callers” to using third-party call blocking apps and creating custom contact lists, you have various options at your disposal.

Remember to stay informed about the latest scams and share this knowledge with others to help protect your community from spam calls.

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