It’s happened to all of us – you’re sitting down to dinner or trying to relax on the weekend and your phone rings. You answer it, only to find out it’s yet another spam caller trying to sell you something or scam you out of your hard-earned money. It’s frustrating, annoying, and can even be dangerous. But don’t worry, there are ways to block these unwanted calls on your iPhone! In this blog post, we’ll go over several methods you can use to keep those pesky spammers at bay.
The Rise of Spam Calls and Why You Need to Block Them
Spam calls have been on the rise in recent years, with some estimates suggesting that Americans received nearly 60 billion spam calls in 2019 alone. These calls aren’t just annoying – they can also be dangerous. Scammers often use spoofing techniques to make it look like their call is coming from a legitimate source, such as a government agency or financial institution. They may try to trick you into giving them personal information or even money.
Blocking spam calls is an important step you can take to protect yourself from these scams. By preventing these calls from reaching your phone, you reduce your risk of falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.
Overview of How to Block Spam Calls on an iPhone
There are several ways to block spam calls on an iPhone:
- Using the “Block This Caller” option
- Blocking unknown callers
- Creating a blocked list
- Enabling the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature
- Using third-party apps to filter robocalls
Let’s take a closer look at each of these methods.
How to Block Numbers on Your iPhone
Using the Block This Caller Option
If you receive a call from a number you don’t recognize, it’s easy to block them using the “Block This Caller” option:
- Tap on the “Phone” app on your home screen
- Select “Recents” at the bottom of the screen
- Find the number you want to block and tap the “i” icon next to it
- Scroll down and select “Block this Caller”
You can also block numbers from your “Contacts” or “Favorites” list by following similar steps.
Blocking Unknown Callers
If you don’t want to receive calls from unknown numbers, you can enable the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature. This will send all calls from numbers that aren’t in your contacts straight to voicemail. We’ll go over how to enable this feature in the next section.
Creating a Blocked List
If you’re getting a lot of spam calls from the same numbers, you can create a blocked list to prevent those numbers from calling you:
- Go to “Settings” on your home screen
- Select “Phone”
- Tap on “Call Blocking & Identification”
- Select “Block Contact”
- Choose the contact you want to block from your list of recent calls, messages, or contacts
You can also add numbers to your blocked list by tapping on the “i” icon next to a recent call, scrolling down, and selecting “Block this Caller.”
How to Enable Silence Unknown Callers
Turning on the Silence Unknown Callers Feature
If you’re tired of getting calls from unknown numbers, you can enable the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature:
- Go to “Settings” on your home screen
- Select “Phone”
- Scroll down and select “Silence Unknown Callers”
- Toggle the switch to the on position
With this feature turned on, calls from numbers that aren’t in your contacts list will be silenced and sent straight to voicemail.
Customizing the Feature
If you want to customize the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature, you can do so by going to “Settings” > “Phone” > “Silence Unknown Callers” and toggling on the “Allow Calls From”option. From here, you can choose which contacts or groups of contacts are allowed to call you even if their number isn’t saved in your phone.
Additional Tips for Blocking Spam Calls
Reporting Spam Calls to Apple
If you receive a spam call on your iPhone, you can report it to help improve the overall call-blocking system. To do so, follow these steps:
- Open the “Phone” app and go to your recent calls list
- Find the spam call and tap the “i” icon next to it
- Scroll down and select “Report Junk”
This will let Apple know about the spam call, which can help improve their call-blocking algorithms.
Using Third-Party Apps
There are several third-party apps available that can help filter out spam calls. Some popular options include Truecaller, RoboKiller, and Hiya. These apps use crowd-sourced data and advanced algorithms to identify and block spam calls. Keep in mind that some of these apps require a subscription fee for their premium features.
Being Careful with Your Phone Number
One of the best ways to prevent spam calls is by being cautious about who you give your phone number to. Be wary of entering your phone number on websites or sharing it on social media. If you’re unsure whether a website is trustworthy, try doing some research before providing your contact information.
Conclusion
Spam calls are annoying and can even be dangerous, but there are several ways you can protect yourself from them on your iPhone. By blocking numbers, enabling the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature, using third-party apps, and being careful with your phone number, you can reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive. Don’t let spam calls ruin your day – take action now to keep those pesky callers at bay!
Lorenzo has been using the internet for as long as he can remember. He was there for the early days of message boards, he watched social media take over, and he’s excited to see what comes next.
