It’s pretty ridiculous that I get several calls a day to my smartphone from spam callers. I’ve registered my number with the National Do Not Call Registry with the FTC, but that hasn’t done much to stop annoying callers. I know you’re probably in the same boat too. Despite the government’s best efforts to prevent unwanted calls, people with technology boldly call knowing there is very little to stop them. If you’re tired of getting those annoying calls, you can take a couple of steps to stop them on your own.
If you’re an owner of a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 or S8 and S8+, you can use Samsung’s built-in call blocking feature simply by activating it in the settings (Note 8 here, S8 and S8+ here). If you’re an Android or iOS user, you can install one or both of the apps below.
If you take care of your elders, make sure they use a service like the ones listed below. Telemarketers and spammers like to target the elderly as they see them as a weaker target. The services below aren’t inherently perfect, but they do serve as a trusted source to block unknown and unwanted callers.
Install Truecaller – Android and iOS links below
Truecaller is the number 1 leading app for identifying spam callers. It can automatically block known spammers and telemarketers from a database of reported offenders based on user input. It’s used by over 250 million people, making it the largest database available. It’s free to install and use, but it does have its limitations with ads but is nonetheless a great first line of defense.
Hiya – Caller ID & Block
Hiya is the service I choose to use on all of my smartphones. It’s free to install and use and doesn’t contain a single advertisement. It automatically identifies known spammers and telemarketers and warns you of it the instant the call comes in. If you don’t want to answer, and never want another call again from that number, Hiya allows you to blacklist that number to prevent it from disturbing you again. It also gives you free access to caller ID – it shows caller profile, business profiles and phone reputation as part of that feature. If you’re an AT&T or T-Mobile customer, Hiya has already partnered with both companies to offer call ID native on certain phones.
With no path in sight for ending call spamming and telemarketing, Truecaller and Hiya offer the most comprehensive ways of preventing those annoyances. Both services are improving as their databases fill with analyzed data and are the only viable options for your sanity.