The Ultimate Guide to Blocking Spam Calls on Android in 2023

How to Block Spam Calls on Android in 2023: A Comprehensive Guide

Spam calls are annoying, disruptive, and potentially dangerous. They can interrupt your work, your sleep, and your peace of mind. They can also trick you into revealing your personal or financial information, or even scam you out of your money.

According to a report by Truecaller 1, a popular app that helps identify and block spam calls, the global average of spam calls per user increased by 18% in 2021, reaching 28.4 calls per month. India ranked as the most affected country by spam calls, with an average of 45.6 calls per user per month 1.

If you’re an Android user, you might be wondering how to stop these unwanted calls from bothering you. Fortunately, there are several ways to block spam calls on your Android phone, depending on your preferences and needs.

In this guide, we’ll cover the following methods to block spam calls on Android in 2023:

Registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry
Blocking numbers manually from your call history
Using the built-in spam filter feature on your phone app
Using third-party apps or services to identify and block spam calls
Removing your data from data brokers’ websites

We’ll also explain the pros and cons of each method, and provide some tips and best practices to protect yourself from spam calls.

Let’s get started!

Registering your number with the National Do Not Call Registry

The first and simplest step to reduce spam calls is to register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry 2 This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that allows you to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls from legitimate businesses.

To register your number, you can either visit the website 2 or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. You can register both your landline and mobile numbers. Your registration will be effective within 31 days of signing up and will last indefinitely unless you cancel it or change your number.

Registering with the National Do Not Call Registry will stop most telemarketing calls from reaching you, but it won’t stop all spam calls. For example, it won’t stop calls from:

Political organizations, charities, or surveys
Businesses that you have given written permission to call you
Businesses that you have an existing relationship with (unless you ask them to stop calling you)
Scammers who don’t care about the law or your preferences
Therefore, registering with the National Do Not Call Registry is a good first step, but not a complete solution to block spam calls on Android.

Blocking numbers manually from your call history

If you’re regularly getting harassed by just a few companies or individuals, the easy way to block unwanted calls is to block their numbers. This will prevent them from calling you again from the same number, but it won’t stop them from using a different number or spoofing their caller ID.

To block numbers manually from your call history, follow these steps:

Open the Phone app on your Android device.

Go to the Recents tab and find the number you want to block.

Tap and hold on to the number and select Block/Report Spam from the menu.

You can choose to report the call as spam as well as block it. Reporting spam helps Google identify and filter out unwanted calls for you and other users.

Tap Block to confirm.

You can also block a number directly from an incoming call by tapping on the red phone icon and selecting Block/Report Spam.

To manage or unblock the numbers that you have blocked, go to the Phone app settings and tap on Blocked numbers. You can see a list of blocked numbers and unblock them if you want.

Blocking numbers manually is a quick and easy way to stop specific callers from bothering you, but it has some limitations. For example:

It doesn’t stop new or unknown callers from reaching you.

It doesn’t work if the caller uses a different number or spoofs their caller ID.

It doesn’t sync across your devices or accounts, so you have to block the same number on each device separately.

Using the built-in spam filter feature on your phone app

Many Android phones come with a built-in feature that can automatically filter out suspected spam calls based on Google’s database of known spam numbers. This feature can save you time and hassle by screening unwanted calls for you.

To use the built-in spam filter feature on your phone app, follow these steps:

Open the Phone app on your Android device.

Tap on the three-dot menu icon at the top right corner and select Settings.

Tap on Caller ID & spam and toggle on See caller and spam ID. This will allow Google to show you information about callers and warn you about potential spam calls.

Tap on Call Screen and then on Spam. Here you can choose how you want Google to handle spam calls. You can select one of the following options:

Automatically screen. Decline robocalls. This will let Google Assistant answer suspected spam calls for you and hang up if it detects a robocall.

Automatically screen. Ring phone. This will let Google Assistant answer suspected spam calls for you and ring your phone if it detects a human caller. You can then decide whether to answer, decline, or report the call.

Silently decline. This will send suspected spam calls straight to voicemail without ringing your phone.

Ring phone. This will ring your phone normally for suspected spam calls but show you a warning on the screen.

Using the built-in spam filter feature on your phone app is a convenient and effective way to block spam calls on Android, but it also has some drawbacks. For example:

It may not catch all spam calls, especially if they use new or spoofed numbers.

It may mistakenly flag some legitimate calls as spam, especially if they come from unknown or private numbers.

It may not work with some third-party apps or services that use your phone app.

Using third-party apps or services to identify and block spam calls

If you want more control and customization over how to block spam calls on Android, you can use third-party apps or services that offer advanced features and options. Some of the most popular and trusted apps or services for blocking spam calls are:

Truecaller 3: This app helps to identify and block spam calls by using a large database of known spam numbers. It also allows you to create your blacklist and whitelist of numbers, as well as block calls by category, such as telemarketers, scammers, or robocalls. Truecaller is free to download and use, but it also offers a premium subscription that removes ads and adds more features, such as recording calls, viewing profiles privately, and getting premium badges.

Hiya 4: This app helps to identify and block spam calls by using a combination of machine learning and user feedback. It also provides detailed information about callers, such as their name, location, and business category. Hiya is free to download and use, but it also offers a premium subscription that removes ads and adds more features, such as automatic fraud blocking, caller ID security protection, and reverse phone lookup.

Nomorobo 5: This service helps to identify and block spam calls by using a real-time blacklist of known robocalls, scammers, and telemarketers. It also allows you to create your blacklist and whitelist of numbers, as well as report new spam numbers. Nomorobo is free for landlines, but it charges a monthly fee for mobile phones.

To use any of these apps or services to block spam calls on Android, you need to download them from the Google Play Store and follow their instructions to set them up on your device. You may need to permit them to access your phone app, contacts, and call logs.

Using third-party apps or services to block spam calls on Android can give you more flexibility and functionality than the built-in feature on your phone app, but they also have some disadvantages. For example:

They may require you to pay a fee or view ads to use their full features.

They may collect and share your personal or call data with third parties for marketing or other purposes.

They may conflict or interfere with other apps or services that use your phone app.

Removing your data from data brokers’ websites

One of the main reasons why you get spam calls is because your personal information, such as your name, phone number, address, email, and more, is available online for anyone to find and use. Data brokers are companies that collect, buy, sell, and trade your data without your consent or knowledge.

Data brokers can get your data from various sources, such as public records, social media platforms, online surveys, loyalty programs, and more. They can then sell your data to marketers, advertisers, scammers, or anyone else who wants to target you with unwanted calls.

To stop spam calls at the source, you need to remove your data from data brokers’ websites. However, this is easier said than done. There are hundreds of data brokers out there, each with their policies and procedures for opting out of their databases.

Some data brokers allow you to opt-out online by filling out a form or sending an email request. Others require you to mail them a letter or fax them a copy of your ID. Some data brokers charge a fee or impose other conditions for opting out. And some data brokers don’t offer any opt-out option at all.

Removing your data from data brokers’ websites can be a tedious and time-consuming process that requires a lot of patience and persistence. However, it can also be rewarding in terms of reducing spam calls and protecting your privacy.

Removing your data from data brokers’ websites Another way to block spam calls on Android is to remove your data from data brokers’ websites. Data brokers are companies that collect, sell, and share your information with other businesses, marketers, or scammers. They can obtain your data from various sources, such as public records, online surveys, social media, or data breaches. By removing your data from data brokers’ websites, you can reduce the chances of your phone number being exposed to spammers. However, this method can be time-consuming and tedious, as there are hundreds of data brokers operating online, and each one has its own opt-out process and privacy policy. To remove your data from data brokers’ websites, you can either do it yourself or use a third-party service that can do it for you. If you want to do it yourself, you can follow these steps:

Find out which data brokers have your information. You can use a tool like DeleteMe3 or OneRep4 to scan the web for your data and get a list of data brokers that have it.

Visit each data broker’s website and look for their opt-out page. You can usually find it in their privacy policy or terms of service. Alternatively, you can use a directory like OptOutPrescreen5 or Privacy Rights Clearinghouse6 to find the opt-out links for various data brokers.

Follow the instructions on the opt-out page to request the removal of your data. You may need to provide some information to verify your identity, such as your name, address, email, or phone number. Some data brokers may also require you to upload a copy of your ID or a utility bill.

Wait for the confirmation of your opt-out request. Depending on the data broker, it may take from a few days to several weeks for your data to be removed from their database. You may also need to confirm your opt-out request via email or phone.

Repeat the process for other data brokers that have your information. You may need to check back periodically to make sure that your data has not been re-added or updated by the data broker. If you want to use a third-party service to remove your data from data brokers’ websites, you can choose from several options, such as DeleteMe3, OneRep4, BrandYourself7, or PrivacyDuck8. These services charge a fee for their services, but they can save you time and hassle by doing the work for you. They can also monitor the web for any new or updated information about you and remove it automatically. Removing your data from data brokers’ websites can help you block spam calls on Android by making your phone number less accessible to spammers. However, this method is not foolproof, as some data brokers may not honor your opt-out request or may re-add your data later. Therefore, you should also use other methods to block spam calls on Android in 2023.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped you learn how to block spam calls on Android in 2023. As you can see, there are various methods to stop unwanted calls, from registering with the National Do Not Call Registry to using third-party apps or services. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, so you can choose the one that suits your needs and preferences best.

However, blocking spam calls is not enough to protect yourself from scammers and fraudsters. You also need to be vigilant and cautious when answering unknown calls or responding to messages. Here are some tips and best practices to avoid falling victim to spam calls:

Never give out your personal or financial information over the phone, unless you initiated the call and you trust the recipient.

Never press any buttons or follow any instructions from a recorded message or a live caller who claims to be from a government agency, a bank, or a tech support company.

Never agree to pay any fees, taxes, or charges by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. These are common ways that scammers use to get your money and avoid detection.

Never answer calls from numbers that look similar to yours or have a familiar area code. These are likely spoofed numbers that are used to trick you into picking up the phone.

Always check the caller ID and do a quick online search before answering or calling back an unknown number. You can use apps like Truecaller1 or websites like [WhoCallsMe] to identify and report spam callers.

Always report spam calls to the FTC by visiting their website or calling 1-888-382-1222. This will help them track and stop illegal robocalls and telemarketing calls.

By following these tips and using the methods we discussed in this guide, you can block spam calls on Android in 2023 and enjoy a more peaceful and secure phone experience. Thank you for reading!

Sources

the report by Truecaller on the global average of spam calls per user in 2021: Truecaller Insights Report 2021: https://www.truecaller.com/blog/insights/truecaller-insights-2022-us-spam-scam-report

The National Do Not Call Registry: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Website on the National Do Not Call Registry: https://www.donotcall.gov/

Google's support article on how to use the built-in spam filter feature on your phone app: Google Support Article on How to Use the Built-in Spam Filter Feature on Your Phone App: https://support.google.com/a/answer/2368132?hl=en

The Google Play Store pages for Truecaller, Hiya, and Nomorobo: Truecaller on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=5383913004303935162&hl=en&gl=US, Hiya on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascender.callerid&hl=en&gl=US, Nomorobo on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nomorobo&hl=en&gl=US

The article "How to Remove Your Personal Information from Data Brokers' Websites" on the website of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC): How to Remove Your Personal Information from Data Brokers' Websites: https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/tips-tricks/how-to-remove-personal-information-from-data-broker-sites/

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