How to Block Spam Calls and Messages on iPhone and Android (2022)

Life is busy Enough without wasting time on spammers, scammers and telemarketers. Whether you’re plagued by persistent lawyers, crooked auto warranty representatives, or a drunk ex, there’s a way to stop the endless calls and texts. Major telecom companies and phone manufacturers have upped their game against spam calls and messages in recent years, so let’s take a look at how to block them effectively.

We also have evidence of How to avoid spam using disposable contact information, Protection against phishing attacksand Avoid phishing scams. Are you feeling frustrated by the whole situation, wondering why no one has been able to stop the barrage of spam calls? Check out WIRED Senior Staff Writer Lily Hay Newman’s article on our website Perpetual robocall hell.

What to consider

Before we dive into the blocking options, there are a few things to know:

• If possible, do not answer any calls from numbers you do not know. Callers who have anything important to say are likely to leave a message anyway. Unfortunately, this won’t work for people whose businesses or interests involve a lot of calls from unknown numbers.
• Never click on a link or attachment in an unsolicited text message as it may run malware. If possible, avoid opening them completely.
• Never reply to an unsolicited text message, as it will confirm that your number is valid.
• If you’re concerned that the call or message may be from a legitimate company, try typing the number into your favorite search engine. Although it may be difficult to verify a scam number, it is easy to verify a legitimate number. If you can’t find anything on the number, be careful and ignore it. We’ll explain how to block numbers, but it’s also important to report unwanted calls and messages. If it’s telemarketing, fraud, or spam, you can Report it to the FTC here. You can also add your number to the Do Not Call Registry, though it only works with sales calls from reputable companies. It is unfortunate that many organizations and scammers ignore this. We’ll go over how to report numbers to manufacturers, carriers, and third parties below. The more people do this, the easier it will be to proactively identify and block or label spam numbers.

How to block calls and text messages on iPhone

Apple via Simon Hill

It’s easy to block individual numbers on your iPhone. Here’s how: