How to Stop Spam Calls
The 3-layer defense: pick your country + carrier + device for the exact steps. 20+ carriers covered, plus iOS/Android settings, do-not-call registries, and the 5 best third-party blockers honestly compared.
Your 3-layer defense
Verizon Call Filter
Free basic; Call Filter Plus $3.99/mo per line
Free version: blocks high-risk calls, screens spam, shows caller ID for unknown numbers. Plus version adds caller ID for personal calls, spam-number lookup, and the ability to create a personal block list with risk scoring.
- Free basic is on by default for postpaid accounts
- For Plus: open My Verizon app, search "Call Filter Plus", add to your line ($3.99/mo)
- Configure via the Verizon Call Filter app (iOS + Android)
iOS β Silence Unknown Callers
Built into iOS 13+. Routes calls from numbers not in your Contacts, Recents, or Siri Suggestions directly to voicemail. The caller hears your voicemail greeting; you see the missed call in Recents.
- Open Settings
- Scroll down and tap Phone
- Scroll to Silence Unknown Callers
- Toggle ON
- Free, built-in, no app required
- Doesn't ring at all β fully silenced
- Voicemail still works β legitimate callers can leave a message
- Blocks ALL unknown callers, including doctors' offices, delivery drivers, new clients
- No spam scoring or community reports
- No call history filtering (recents still shows them)
National Do Not Call Registry
Free registration. Telemarketers must stop calling within 31 days. Does NOT block scam calls, political calls, charities, debt collectors, surveys, or robocalls from companies you have a business relationship with.
Register on National Do Not Call Registry βFCC Consumer Complaint Center
Report illegal robocalls and unwanted calls. The FCC investigates patterns and fines violators. Also see fcc.gov/robocalls for educational resources.
File a complaint βStill getting spam? Top 5 third-party blockers
If layers 1-3 still let too many through, add a dedicated blocker app. Ranked by editorial score β we honestly note the trade-offs.
RoboKiller
iOS β’ AndroidAI-driven robocall blocker with answer bots that waste scammers' time. Largest paid market share; FTC partnership data shows ~99% block rate on known scam patterns.
- AI fingerprinting catches spam variants that bypass other blockers
- Answer bots prank scammers β entertainment value + wastes their time
- Visual voicemail with spam transcription
- Works on both iOS and Android
- Most expensive option in this list
- Occasional false positives on legitimate businesses
- Premium-only voicemail features
Hiya
iOS β’ AndroidDefault caller-ID provider built into Samsung Smart Call and AT&T Call Protect. Hiya's caller-ID database is among the largest globally.
- Free tier covers most use cases
- Built into Samsung phones natively
- Solid caller-ID coverage
- Reverse phone search
- Free tier shows ads
- Premium reverse lookup costs extra
- Some users report inconsistent spam labeling
Truecaller
iOS β’ AndroidWorld's largest crowd-sourced caller-ID database β 350+ million daily active users. Strong outside the US (dominant in India, Middle East, Africa).
- Largest community-reported spam database
- Free tier is genuinely useful
- Strong in non-US markets where other blockers are weaker
- Cross-platform sync
- Privacy concerns β uploads contacts by default (you can opt out)
- iOS feature parity lags Android
- Premium upsells in free tier
Nomorobo
iOS β’ AndroidOne of the originals (2013). Uses "simultaneous ring" tech on landlines to intercept robocalls before the first ring completes. Mobile uses a more standard blocking approach.
- Cheapest premium option in this list
- Excellent on VoIP landlines (Ooma, Comcast XFINITY, Vonage offer it free)
- Federal court-recognized technology
- Mobile experience is less polished than RoboKiller or Hiya
- iOS requires manual setup of Call Directory permissions
YouMail
iOS β’ AndroidVoicemail-focused approach: known robocallers hear "this number has been disconnected" β they update their lists and stop calling. Visual voicemail included.
- Voicemail integration unique among blockers
- Free tier offers solid robocall blocking
- Smart Greetings adapt by caller
- Voicemail-replacement model isn't for everyone
- Premium is expensive vs alternatives
Why robocalls keep happening despite STIR/SHAKEN
STIR/SHAKEN is the FCC-mandated caller-ID authentication framework deployed by all major US voice providers since 30 June 2021. It cryptographically signs outgoing calls so receiving carriers can verify the caller ID is legitimate. It has reduced spoofing significantly β about 95% of voice traffic among top US Tier-1 carriers now uses A-level attestation.
But it doesn't stop robocalls entirely because:
- Offshore call centers operate outside US jurisdiction β STIR/SHAKEN authentication on US-side gateways still labels them βCβ (low attestation), but determined scammers route around this.
- AI voice cloning has made scam calls vastly more convincing β the FCC banned AI voice in robocalls 8 February 2024, but enforcement is limited.
- Some legitimate auto-dial campaigns (debt collectors, surveys, political) remain legal under TCPA carve-outs β they pass STIR/SHAKEN authentication just fine.
- Data breaches continuously expose phone numbers tied to other personal data, making targeted scams (IRS impersonation, package delivery scams, fake tech support) easier to craft.
See our deep-dive: STIR/SHAKEN explained β
Are you getting blamed for calls you didn't make? Your number is being spoofed.
If strangers are calling YOU asking why you called THEM β or angrily saying you scammed them β spammers are using your phone number as their spoofed caller ID. This is a different problem from incoming spam, and unfortunately there's no permanent fix:
- Record a voicemail greeting explaining your number was spoofed and asking spam recipients to ignore future calls from you (generator here).
- File a complaint with the FCC Consumer Complaint Center ( here) β pattern data helps them target the spoofers.
- Don't answer unknown numbers calling YOU about calls β explaining repeatedly is exhausting and doesn't help.
- In severe cases (1000s of angry callbacks), changing your number may be the only relief. Your carrier can do it free; you keep the same carrier and plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop spam calls?
Does the National Do Not Call Registry actually work?
What is the best robocall blocker app?
How do I block all unknown numbers on iPhone?
How do I block spam calls on Android?
What is STIR/SHAKEN and does it stop spam calls?
Why am I getting so many spam calls in 2026?
What's the difference between robocalls and spam calls?
Can I sue robocallers under TCPA?
Will registering on the Do Not Call list stop scam calls?
Calling someone yourself? Don't get marked βSpam Likelyβ.
BubblyPhone outbound calls are STIR/SHAKEN A-attested β your caller ID is cryptographically signed, so calls from BubblyPhone don't get flagged as spam on the receiving end (unlike personal mobile lines, which often do).