Getting unwanted calls can be annoying and disruptive. You may want to stop these incoming calls, but don’t want to outright block the caller in case it’s someone you know trying to reach you. There are a few different approaches you can take to stop unwanted calls without fully blocking the caller.
Send Calls to Voicemail
One easy way to stop unwanted calls is to send them directly to voicemail. This prevents the call from ringing on your phone and disrupting you, but still allows the caller to leave a message that you can listen to later. Here are some ways to send calls to voicemail:
- On an iPhone, tap the “Phone” icon, scroll down and tap “Silence Unknown Callers”. This will send any calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail automatically.
- On an Android phone, download a call screening app like YouMail or RoboKiller which allow you to send calls to voicemail based on various rules and filters.
- On a landline, use anonymous call rejection services from your phone provider to send anonymous calls straight to voicemail.
The advantage of sending unwanted calls to voicemail is that it allows you to screen them without completely blocking the number. If it’s someone you know or a call you need to take, they can leave a message and you can call them back.
Enable Do Not Disturb Mode
Another option is to use your phone’s Do Not Disturb mode during times when you don’t want interruptions from calls. This silences calls from everyone, not just specific numbers.
- On an iPhone, open the Control Center and tap the moon icon to enable Do Not Disturb mode. Or schedule it for certain times in Settings.
- On Android, open the notification drawer and tap the Do Not Disturb button to toggle it on. You can set a schedule under Settings > Sound > Do Not Disturb.
This is a blanket approach that stops all calls during the times you have Do Not Disturb enabled. Make sure important contacts are added to your exceptions list so their calls still come through.
Block Caller ID Info
If you think spam callers are targeting you based on your caller ID info, you can block your number when making outgoing calls. This prevents spammers from seeing your ID and recognizing your number when calling you back.
- On iPhone, dial *67 before each number when making a call to block your ID for that call only.
- On Android, download an app like SpoofCard which lets you input a code before each call to hide your caller ID.
- Or request a permanent caller ID block from your mobile carrier for all outgoing calls.
Blocking your caller ID prevents number harvesting from robocallers and could reduce unwanted calls. But it also prevents people you call from knowing it’s you, so it makes outgoing communication less convenient.
Use Call Blocking Apps and Features
There are various call blocking apps and services you can use to stop unwanted calls:
- Nomorobo – Blocks known robocall and spam numbers automatically.
- Mr. Number – Android app that blocks calls and texts from unwanted numbers.
- RoboKiller – Stops robocalls and telemarketers with blacklist blocking and answering bots.
- Carrier call blocking – Free services offered by mobile carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon to identify and block spam calls.
These leverage crowdsourced call blacklists and auto-blocking to stop many unwanted calls automatically. However, legitimate callers could accidentally get blocked too. Maintain your blocklists diligently if using these services.
Ask to Be Put on Do Not Call List
If you receive unwanted telemarketing calls, you can reduce many of them by asking to be added to the National Do Not Call Registry. This free service prevents sales calls from legitimate companies (illegal robocallers won’t adhere to the list).
- Visit www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 to add your number to the list.
- It can take up to 31 days for calls to stop after registering your number.
- Report violators at the same site.
This national Do Not Call list prevents companies from calling numbers on the registry. It’s a good option for reducing legitimate telemarketing calls you don’t want.
Change Your Phone Number
In severe cases of spam calls, you may want to change your phone number completely to stop unwanted calls from hitting your phone.
- Contact your mobile carrier to request a new phone number for your device.
- Make sure to inform contacts of your new number.
- Only give the new number out selectively to prevent it getting onto call lists again.
This is an extreme measure best reserved for when other options have failed. It can disrupt communication from people you know trying to reach you as well. But can be an effective last resort if you’re getting harassed by calls and unable to stop them.
Conclusion
Stopping unwanted calls doesn’t have to mean completely blocking the callers. With options like sending calls to voicemail, enabling Do Not Disturb mode, blocking your caller ID, using call blocking apps, or adding your number to the Do Not Call list, you can take steps to reduce disruptions from unwanted callers while still allowing legitimate calls to reach you.
Implement two or three of these approaches together to maximize the reduction in spam calls. But be careful of over-blocking – make sure important contacts can still get through. With some selective call screening, you can stop almost all unwanted incoming calls without going to the extreme of blocking every single unknown caller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I get so many spam calls?
There are a few reasons why spam calls have increased:
- Robocalling technology makes it cheap and easy to make automated calls en masse.
- Caller ID spoofing allows spammers to hide their real numbers.
- List sharing and number harvesting among telemarketers circulates numbers.
- Scammers find robocalling an easy way to reach many people quickly.
Do call blocking apps work?
Call blocking apps can be effective at reducing robocalls and spam calls by using blacklists, algorithms, and crowd-sourced reports to identify and block likely unwanted callers before your phone rings. Popular and reputable options like Nomorobo, RoboKiller, and YouMail can block anywhere from 30-90% of spam calls for most users.
What happens when you block a number?
When you fully block a phone number, your phone will not ring and you will not receive any calls from that number. The caller will either hear a recorded message that the call has been blocked, or the call will disconnect. You also won’t be notified of attempted calls from a blocked number.
Can blocked callers leave voicemails?
No, callers who are blocked will not be able to leave a voicemail message, as the call will be rejected before it can reach your voicemail inbox. This is why sending unwanted callers to voicemail instead of blocking can be a better option, so you can still screen them.
Is there an app to stop all robocalls?
Unfortunately there is no app capable of stopping 100% of all robocalls and spam calls. The best apps use AI, algorithms, crowdsourcing, and constantly updated blacklists to identify and block common robocall tactics. This allows them to stop a majority of unwanted calls but some still get through as spammers are always evolving their techniques.
What happens if you don’t answer a robocall?
If you do not answer a robocall, most automated systems will hang up after a set number of rings rather than leave a voicemail. However, not answering also signals to the robocaller that your number is active. This could result in being targeted by more calls in the future. It’s best to take steps to actually block or filter out unwanted calls.
Can the police track unwanted calls?
It can be difficult for law enforcement to track and shut down robocallers who use spoofing techniques to mask their identities. The best option is to report details of unwanted calls to the FTC and FCC who can sometimes trace patterns to known scam operations. But regular nuisance calls from telemarketers are usually not considered a police matter.
Why am I getting calls from my own number?
Scammers and robocall services often use spoofed numbers that appear familiar or “local” to trick you into answering. This includes spoofing their calls to make it look like they are coming from your own phone number. If you see your number calling you, it’s almost certainly a scam call that should be ignored and blocked.
Key Takeaways
- Send unwanted calls directly to voicemail using native phone features or call screening apps.
- Toggle on Do Not Disturb mode to silence calls during certain times or events.
- Use call blocking apps and carrier services to identify and stop known spam numbers.
- Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry to reduce telemarketer calls.
- Change your phone number as a last resort if other options don’t reduce unwanted calls.