Free Guide to Blocking Unsolicited Phone Calls

Understanding Unsolicited Phone Calls and Why They Happen

Unsolicited phone calls — calls you didn't ask for and don't want — have become a major problem in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reported that Americans received over 4.6 billion robocalls in 2023 alone. These calls range from telemarketers selling products and services to scammers attempting fraud. Understanding what these calls are and why they happen is the first step in protecting yourself.

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Unsolicited calls come from several sources. Legitimate businesses use them to sell products, conduct surveys, or collect debts. Scammers use unsolicited calls to impersonate banks, government agencies, or tech companies to steal personal information or money. Robocalls — automated calls that deliver pre-recorded messages — make up a large portion of unwanted contact. According to the FCC, robocalls account for roughly one-third of all calls received on mobile phones.

Companies obtain phone numbers through various methods. They purchase lists from data brokers, scrape numbers from websites and public records, or use auto-dialing software to call random number combinations. Once you answer a call from a scammer, your number is often sold to other scammers and marked as "active," leading to more unwanted calls.

Certain groups face more unsolicited calls than others. Older adults report receiving more fraud-related calls, while people with recent financial transactions (like new credit card applications) receive more telemarketer calls. Understanding these patterns helps you recognize when calls may be suspicious.

Practical Takeaway: Keep a record of unsolicited calls you receive — note the number, time, and what they claimed to be selling or requesting. This information becomes useful if you decide to report the calls or take blocking action.

Tools Built Into Your Phone for Blocking Calls

Most modern smartphones come with built-in features that allow you to block calls without downloading anything or paying extra fees. These native tools are often the simplest and most effective first line of defense against unsolicited calls.

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For iPhone Users: Apple devices include multiple blocking options in the Phone app. You can block individual numbers by opening the recent calls list, tapping the information icon next to a number, scrolling down, and selecting "Block this Caller." You can also silence calls from unknown numbers by going to Settings, Phone, and toggling on "Silence Unknown Callers." This feature sends calls from numbers not in your contacts straight to voicemail. Additionally, iPhone allows you to filter messages and calls from people not in your contacts using the "Filtering" option in Settings under Messages and Phone.

For Android Users: Android phones offer similar protection through the Phone app. Tap the three dots on a recent call or contact, then select "Block number." Android also offers a "Block Unknown" feature in some versions that prevents calls from unrecognized numbers from ringing through. Samsung phones (a popular Android brand) include additional options like "Reject Auto Reject List" where you can add numbers and set automatic rejection rules.

Do Not Disturb and Focus Modes: Both iPhone and Android allow you to create schedules where only contacts you've designated can reach you. This feature works during specific times (like nights or work hours) and can reduce unwanted interruptions while ensuring important contacts still get through.

These built-in tools work because they operate on your device itself. They don't require internet connection, don't involve third-party companies, and don't cost money. However, they have one limitation: they work best when you already know which numbers to block, since they're reactive rather than preventive.

Practical Takeaway: Start by enabling your phone's native blocking features today. For iPhone, turn on "Silence Unknown Callers." For Android, enable "Block Unknown" if available. These single settings will reduce unsolicited calls without requiring any additional setup.

Third-Party Apps and Services for Call Filtering

Beyond built-in phone tools, numerous apps and services specialize in filtering and blocking unwanted calls. These tools use databases of known scam numbers, spam numbers, and telemarketer numbers to identify and block calls before they reach you.

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Free Options: Several call-blocking apps offer free versions. Nomorobo, for example, uses a database of millions of spam numbers and maintains a "Do Not Call" registry integration. The app works by identifying patterns typical of robocalls. RoboKiller offers a free version that uses artificial intelligence to identify spam calls. Call Control provides free call blocking with a customizable blacklist and whitelist. These free versions typically include basic blocking features and caller identification.

How These Apps Work: Most call-filtering apps use one or more methods to identify unwanted calls. They maintain and regularly update databases of known spam and scam numbers. They analyze call patterns — for instance, calls made to thousands of people within seconds are likely robocalls. Some apps use community reporting, where users flag numbers as spam, adding them to shared databases. Others cross-reference incoming calls against known business numbers to identify telemarketing calls.

Installation and Setup: You can find most call-blocking apps through your phone's app store. After installation, they request permission to access your call log and incoming calls. This permission is necessary for them to identify unwanted numbers. Once installed, most apps run automatically in the background, filtering calls as they arrive. Some apps display a warning when an incoming call matches their spam database.

Limitations to Know: Free versions of call-blocking apps sometimes show advertisements. Some apps require you to grant extensive permissions to your phone data. Call-blocking effectiveness varies by app — while they catch many common spam numbers, new scam numbers appear constantly, so no app blocks everything. Additionally, if a scammer uses a spoofed number (a fake caller ID that appears to be from a legitimate company or local number), apps may have difficulty identifying it.

Practical Takeaway: If your phone's built-in tools don't reduce unsolicited calls sufficiently, research and install one free call-blocking app. Start with the free version rather than paid options, since effectiveness varies. Test it for two weeks before deciding if it meets your needs.

Registering With the National Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry, maintained by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is a free service where you can register your phone number to reduce telemarketing calls. While not perfect, understanding how this registry works helps you know what protections it offers and what it doesn't.

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How to Register: You can register your phone number at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. The website accepts both landline and mobile numbers. Registration takes less than one minute. Once registered, your number stays on the list indefinitely — you don't need to renew it. You can register up to three phone numbers per online session.

What the Registry Protects Against: Telemarketers are legally required to stop calling numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. This includes calls from charities, political organizations, and surveys (with some exceptions for existing business relationships). If you've done business with a company in the past 18 months, they may still call you even if you're on the list. Healthcare providers and financial institutions you've done business with can also call. However, these calls must stop if you ask them directly to place you on their internal do-not-call list.

What the Registry Does NOT Stop: The National Do Not Call Registry does not stop calls from scammers or robocalls made for illegal purposes — scammers ignore the registry because they don't respect laws anyway. It doesn't stop calls from nonprofits, political organizations, or charities. It doesn't stop calls about debt collection from companies you legitimately owe money to. Surveys and research calls may continue despite registration.

Reporting Violations: If a telemarketer calls after 31 days of registering your number, you can report the violation at donotcall.gov. The FTC investigates reports and pursues enforcement against companies that violate the registry. While the registry isn't perfect, reported violations do result in fines for companies that break the rules.

Practical Takeaway: Register your phone number at donotcall.gov today if you haven't already. While it won