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

Life is busy enough without wasting time on spammers, scammers, and telemarketers. Whether you’re dealing with personal injury attorneys, fraudulent car insurance agents, or a drunk caller, there’s a way to stop the endless calls and messages. Major carriers and phone manufacturers have upped their game against unwanted calls and messages in recent years, so let’s take a look at how to effectively block them.

We also have guides how to avoid spam and lost information, protect against criminalsand avoid deception. Frustrated with this whole problem and wondering why no one has stopped spam callbacks? Check out WIRED’s senior author Lily Hay Newman’s article on our website endless robocall hell.

What You Should Remember

Before we get into the blocking process, there are a few things you should know:

• If possible, do not answer any calls from numbers you do not know. Callers who have something important to say can leave a message. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work for people who have businesses or interests that involve a lot of calls from unknown numbers.
• Also, never click on a link or attachment in a spam message as it may introduce malware. If possible, avoid opening everything.
• Do not reply to a spam message, as it confirms that your number is valid.
• If you are concerned that the call or message is from a legitimate company, try typing the number into your favorite search engine. Although it can be difficult to verify a scammer’s number, it is easy to verify a legitimate one. If you can’t find anything on this number, be careful and ignore it. We will explain how to block numbers, but it is also important to report unwanted calls and messages. If it’s telemarketing, scam, or spam, you can report to the FTC here. You can also add your number to the Do Not Call Registry, although it only works on sales calls from reputable companies. Sadly, many organizations and fraudsters ignore this. We’ll discuss how to report numbers to manufacturers, carriers, and others below. When people do this, it becomes easier to identify and prevent or code problems.

How to Block Calls and Texts on iPhone

Apple via Simon Hill

It’s easy to hide someone’s numbers on your iPhone. Here’s how: