Cellphone spam has become a huge problem in recent years. Unwanted calls can be annoying and frustrating, but you can take steps to stop them. This article will discuss some of the best ways to protect yourself from phone spam. We’ll also provide tips on how to deal with telemarketers and other unwanted callers. So, keep reading for helpful advice, whether you’re looking to reduce the number of spam calls you receive or just want to know how to handle them when they do come through.
Easy Solutions to Stop Phone Spam Calls
One of the simplest ways to stop phone spam is by signing up for a service that blocks telemarketers and other suspicious callers. Call-blocking services work by identifying numbers associated with junk calls and blocking them from reaching your phone. Many people find this option appealing because it’s simple, relatively inexpensive, and highly effective at stopping annoying calls on all of your devices—including your home phone if you have one.
In addition to traditional call blockers, some online apps can help protect you from unwanted callers, such as RoboKiller. RoboKiller uses interactive SMS technology to engage spammers in a conversation, so they leave you alone. More importantly, RoboKiller also prevents spam and robocalls from ringing your phone in the first place. The app is free to download, but you can pay a small monthly fee for an upgraded version that offers more features such as personalized robo-blocking and spam SMS transcription (see below for a full list of RoboKiller’s features).
To put it simply, signing up for a call blocker or similar service is one of the easiest ways to stop phone spam. However, there are other options available if you want a bit more control over who calls you.
Find out Who Called You
If you receive a spam call or some form of harassment and caller ID isn’t showing it, you can still try to look up a cell phone number in other ways. There are also dozens of free online services that allow you to find out who called by entering either a phone number or the name that appears on their caller ID.
For instance, one of the most popular websites for searching phone numbers is Whitepages. By entering just a phone number, you can discover details about the person associated with it—including their name, age range, and social media accounts if they’re available. If you enter an area code and prefix (i.e., “623”), you can also find all of the numbers within that geographic range. However, this service does not provide personal information like addresses or places of employment without paying for a membership plan (starting at $5 per month).
Block Individual Numbers
If you receive unwanted calls from particular numbers, you have the option to block those numbers on your phone directly. Most carriers let you report spam callers by forwarding those calls to 7726 (or “SPAM”). Once forwarded, your carrier should immediately block the number from getting through to you.
However, this method is not foolproof and may only work on some carriers. If you’re worried about missing important phone calls from numbers you don’t recognize, consider other options such as a call-blocking service or an advanced call blocker like RoboKiller that can preemptively protect you from spam calls.
Don’t Call Them Back
When dealing with spam callers, an effective way to get them off your back for good is by not calling them back. Most companies will typically stop calling if they know you won’t engage with their product or service. At the same time, make sure not to block the number because you should still be able to receive calls from legitimate businesses even after reporting it as spam.
Deal With Telemarketers the Right Way
As briefly mentioned above, if a telemarketer calls you and identifies themselves as such, never give away any information about yourself and simply ask them to remove your name and number from their list. You can also request certain pieces of information before making this request, so they don’t waste your time.
Regardless of how people are trying to contact you, never give out personal information over the phone. Even if someone claims to be from a well-known company or says, they are conducting an important survey, just hang up and call back using another method, such as online search results. Doing so is one of the easiest ways to protect your identity and prevent future spam calls.
The next time you get an unwanted phone call, keep these tips in mind so you won’t be interrupted by annoying spammy phone calls.
