How to Stop Spam Calls and Robocalls

If your phone rings all day with car warranty offers, fake bank alerts, and recorded voices, you are not alone. Spam calls are annoying, and some are scams. You cannot stop every one, but you can cut them down a lot. Here is how.

First, the golden rule

If a call makes you feel rushed, scared, or pressured, hang up. Your real bank, Medicare, the IRS, and Microsoft will not call you demanding payment or asking for passwords. If you are worried, call the company back using a number you trust, like the one on your card or statement.

Steps for any phone

1. Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry. It is free at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. It will not stop scammers, but it cuts down calls from legitimate telemarketers.
2. Do not answer numbers you do not recognize. Let them go to voicemail. Real callers leave a message.
3. Do not press any buttons on a recorded call, even if it says "press 1 to be removed." That tells them your number works.
4. Do not say "yes" to a stranger asking, "Can you hear me?"

On an iPhone

Go to Settings, then Phone, and turn on Silence Unknown Callers. Calls from numbers that are not in your contacts go straight to voicemail. Be sure your doctors, pharmacy, and family are saved as contacts first.

On an Android phone

Open the Phone app, tap the three dots, then Settings, and look for Caller ID and spam or Block numbers. Turn on spam filtering. The exact wording varies by phone brand.

Check with your phone company

Most cell carriers offer free spam call blocking, often through their own app. Call your carrier or visit their store and ask what is included with your plan.

Landlines

Some landline providers offer free call blocking features, so it is worth calling and asking. A home phone with a built-in call blocker can also help a lot.

If you already answered a scam call

Do not panic. If you gave out a card number, call your bank right away. If you let someone onto your computer, turn it off and get help before using it again. You can report scam calls to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

We can set this up for you

On a visit, we can turn on call blocking, save your important contacts, and show you how to spot a scam call. We help seniors in 20 cities across the Denver metro, from Greeley in the north to Castle Rock in the south.

Request a Visit or call or text (303) 276-7623.