3 simple ways to fight back against spam calls

There’s a special place in you-know-where for spam callers. They’re annoying. They waste time. They’re also dangerous.

And while it’s challenging to eliminate spam calls entirely, the good news is that with a little time and effort, you can significantly reduce the number of spam calls you receive. Here’s what to do.

Add yourself to the FTC’s Do Not Call list

One of the easiest and longest-lasting ways to reduce spam calls is to add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry, which is a free service managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Once you’ve added your number, telemarketers have a month to remove you from their lists so you don’t get any more calls. These days, however, whether they will abide by these rules is another story, so read on for some more effective alternatives.

Use call-blocking features and/or apps

While the Do Not Call list relies on the . . . ahem . . . good nature of above-board telemarketers to take you off their lists, it’s largely ineffective against the real culprits: scammers and illegal telemarketers.

Luckily, modern smartphones are packed with features designed to help combat spam.

Most have built-in features that allow you to block individual numbers. While this won’t stop spoofed numbers, it can help you get rid of repeat offenders.

Here’s how to block numbers on iPhone, and here’s how to do it on Android if you use Google’s Phone app.

You can also send unknown callers to voicemail. This is a handy feature that lets legitimate callers leave a message while ideally discouraging nefarious callers from doing the same. The two links in the previous paragraph contains information about how to enable the feature.

And if all else fails, consider third-party call-blocking apps. Popular options include Hiya, Robokiller, Truecaller, and Nomorobo. These apps use crowdsourced data, known-offender databases, and AI to identify and automatically block or flag potential spam calls.

While they’re not perfect, they can significantly reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive.

Protect your personal info in the first place

Spammers thrive on data, so the less information you share, the less likely you are to be targeted.

Make sure to be cautious online. Think twice before entering your phone number on websites, especially those that seem suspicious or offer freebies in exchange for your information.

If the caution ship has already sailed, look into opting out of data brokerages. Data brokers collect and sell your personal information, including your phone number, to just about anyone willing to pay for it.

While it takes some effort, you can opt out of these services to reduce your online footprint. A quick Google search for “opt out data brokers” will provide a list of resources to help you get started.

And finally, just don’t engage. Never answer calls from unknown numbers, and never provide any personal information to callers you don’t recognize. Even answering the phone signals to spammers that you’ve got a live, active number. Just let the call go to voicemail and screen it later.

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