How to Stop Robocalls on Any Device? iPhone, Android & Landlines

Robocalls are automated phone calls that deliver pre-recorded messages. These calls are made without human intervention. Telemarketers and scammers often make robocalls via auto-dialer software to reach large numbers of people at once.

Every day, millions of robocalls affect mobile users from all around the globe. There are more robocalls nowadays because they’re cheap to make. Moreover, technological advancements have also aided scammers for callers to mask their identity and location, a tactic known as caller ID spoofing. This spoofing has made blocking robocalls challenging as it disguises the call’s true source and the scammers’ identity. That’s why every phone user must know how to stop robocalls to prevent falling into the traps of scammers.

Scammers use different types of illegal robocalls to try to get your personal information. One might pretend to be from a bank asking for your account details, while another might say you won a prize to get your personal information.

Call spoofing happens when scammers change their caller ID to hide their real number. They trick you into thinking the call is from someone you can trust, like a local business or a government agency. 

Callers pretend to be from a charity and ask for donations. People are more likely to give money if they think it’s for a good cause. Scammers take advantage of it to collect money from you. But the money doesn't go to any actual charity.

Another type of robocall is that the scammer promises you a prize, discount, or a special offer, but to get it, you must provide personal details or pay some fees. Most people easily fall into the trap of being excited to get a deal or big prize.

You’re offered a free product trial in the free trial scam, but there’s a catch. They often ask for your credit card details for “shipping” or “handling,” then charge you without clear consent. This is one of the most popular robocalls, as scammers believe no one would refuse free things.

Chinese robocalls often target Chinese-speaking communities, threatening them with immigration or legal issues. These calls create fear and urgency among those who think they might be in trouble. As a result, they do what the caller has asked for.

In the IRS scam, the caller pretends to be from the IRS and claims you owe taxes. They threaten legal action if you don’t pay immediately. This type of scam is typically effective as people are often scared of getting into trouble with the IRS.

In debt collection scam, callers claim you owe money for a debt and must pay immediately. They might even have some of your personal information to sound convincing. Unfortunately, most people pay money due to the fear of the legal consequences, even if the debt isn’t real.

Blocking robocalls is certainly crucial to protect ourselves from scammers. But before doing that, you must also be careful about what type of robocall you want to block. Not all the robocalls are harmful. In fact, some of these calls are both legal and beneficial. Such calls are made for good reasons and follow the law.

For example, a legally automated call might be a message from your child’s school about a sudden closure or a call from your doctor’s office reminding you about an appointment. These calls are meant to give you important information quickly and easily. So, while it’s essential to guard against scam calls, you should also be aware of good robocalls.

While there are a few good robocalls, you’ll most often get false or dangerous robocalls. For reasons, it’s really important to block robocalls that are false and misleading.

Robocalls often come from unknown numbers. Blocking them helps you avoid calls from people you don’t know and might not have good intentions.

Answering robocalls can lead to even more robocalls. Whenever scammers know your number is active, they may keep calling repeatedly.

Many spam calls spread false information or misleading offers. Stopping robocalls with wrong information helps you avoid confusion and mislead.

Scam calls often target people who are more likely to know about the scams, like the elderly or those not tech-savvy. Employing a robocall-blocking approach can help protect these vulnerable groups.

Robocalls take up your time. Blocking them saves you from wasting time on calls that aren’t important or are trying to deceive you.

Many robotic calls trick you into giving away your money or personal information.
Blocking them helps protect you from fraud and scams.

Given the many good reasons to block robocalls, you must first identify whether you’re receiving a false robocall or a genuinely good one. The tips below will help you spot robocall scams.

If you get a call about a service or product you never bought, it’s likely a scam. Scammers often make up services to sound convincing. Before providing any information, check if the call concerns something you use or have bought.

Robocalls usually have a recorded message, not a live person. When answering any call, if you hear a generic message or something that doesn’t sound like a real person is talking, it’s probably a robocall.

Be careful when you get a call, and the other party offers you something you didn’t ask for, like a prize or a deal. These are often tricks to get your personal information or money.

Scam robocalls might not respond correctly to your questions. It could be a robocall if you feel the other person’s response is odd or doesn’t make sense.

Be careful when the caller asks to press an unusual button to stop future calls or speak to someone. It could be a tactic to confirm your number is active.

Once you’ve identified that unwanted automated calls are getting through to your phone, it’s time to take action. Below is listed the 4 actions you can take to stop robocalls on your phone.

The FTC’s National Do Not Call Registry also allows you to report spam or unwanted calls. Upon receiving any suspicious call, report your call here. You’ll need to provide details about the number and the time and date of the call. It helps track down the scammers and prevent future scams.

It’s always wise not to answer when you get a call from a number you don’t recognize or seem suspicious. Picking up these calls can lead to more spam and scam attempts, as it confirms to the caller that your number is active. Simply ignoring unwanted calls may sound common idea, but many times, they can actually save you from the robocall.

Be cautious with whom you share your number with. The more your number is available for scammers,  the higher the chances it is used for robocalls. Always ensure you only provide your phone number to trusted sources and avoid entering it on suspicious websites or forms.

Navigating the maze of robocalls can be tricky, but there are effective solutions for iPhone, Android, and landline users. Below are specific, easy-to-follow steps tailored for each platform to help you reclaim peace and privacy from these relentless calls.

iPhone allows you to keep away unwanted spammy calls in several ways. Below are listed the ways how you can block robocalls on your iPhone.

1. Block Robocalls with the Built-in Call-Blocking Feature
 

The built-in call-blocking feature in the iPhone blocks any unknown numbers from reaching you. The feature sends such unknown numbers directly to your voicemail.
 

Step 1: Go to Settings and scroll down to tap on Phone.
Step 2: Scroll down again and find 'Silence Unknown Callers'.
Step 3: Turn on the 'Silence Unknown Callers' option.

2. Block Robocalls Manually for Individual Callers
 

The built-in call-blocking feature has one major drawback - blocks all unknown numbers. You might miss an important message, like a call from your healthcare provider or a notification about your travel bookings. To avoid this, you can block individual callers manually. This is helpful when you’re getting spam calls from the same number.
 

Step 1: Go to the Phone app.
Step 2: Choose the Favorites, Recents, Contacts, or Voicemail tab.
Step 3: Find the name, number, name, or “i” icon next to the number to block. Tap on it.
Step 4: Scroll down to find and tap on 'Block this Caller.'
Step 5: Confirm by tapping 'Block Contact'.

Android phones provide several ways to stop robocalls on Android. The process is quite easy and straightforward.

1. Block All Unknown Numbers

The following steps prevent any unknown numbers from reaching your Android device.

Step 1: Go to your Phone app.
Step 2: On the top corner, tap on the three dots.
Step 3: Tap on “Settings.”
Step 4: Select 'Blocked numbers.'
Step 5: Turn on “Unknown”

2. Block Individual Phone Numbers
 

Follow the steps below to block the robotic calls from the individual phone numbers.

Step 1: Go to the Phone app.
Step 2: On the top corner, tap on the three dots.
Step 3: Go to 'Call History'
Step 4: Select the number to block.
Step 5: Choose 'Block/report spam'

Even the traditional landlines often come with caller ID, and you can choose not to pick up anonymous or unknown numbers. However, if you still want to block a particular number, below are listed the ways to stop robocalls on Landline.

1. Block Individual Unknown Number

Follow the steps below to manually block a specific number on landline.

Step 1: Key in ‘*60’ on your landline phone. 
Step 2: Dial ‘#01#’ to block the most recent call.
Step 3: Input ‘#,’ the 10-digit number you want to block, and ‘#’ again to block a specific number. 

2. Block All Unknown Numbers

The following steps prevent any unknown numbers from reaching your landline.

Step 1: Dial ‘*77’ on your landline.
Step 2: Follow the automated menu instructions to block all unknown numbers.

A VoIP phone system can be a good way to handle robocalls on any device (Android, iPhone, or landline phones). Calilio has extensive VoIP features that help you filter out any unwanted calls.

• Call Screening Call screening

  lets you see who’s calling before you answer. It gives you the option to take the call or not. It’s really good for avoiding robocalls.

   

• IVR (Interactive Voice Response) 

  IVR is a system that asks callers to press buttons or speak responses. Since robocalls can't do this, they usually can't get through. This means you get fewer unwanted calls.

   

• Call Blocking 

  Call blocking on Calilio, as the name suggests, lets you block spam numbers. Once you block a number, you will no longer receive any robocalls from that number.

If you haven’t set up measures to block robocalls, there is a high chance that you will pick one unknowingly. In sich circumstances, you must protect yourself from scams or data loss. You can take several steps immediately after realizing you’re on a robocall to prevent harm.

When you accidentally pick up a robocall, simply hang up the phone as soon as you realize it. It prevents the scammer from getting any information from you or tricking you into doing something.

Avoid pressing any buttons during a robocall, even if instructed. Pressing buttons can signal to the scammer that your number is active. It can lead to more robocalls in the future.

Make sure not to share personal information during the call. It protects against scammers using robocalls to collect data like your credit card details or Social Security number.

After hanging up, report the robocall to authorities like the Federal Trade Commission as soon as possible. It can help to track down the scammers and prevent them from making more calls.

Once you’ve disconnected the call, block the number on your phone. It helps prevent getting spam calls from that particular number in the future.

Robocalls are a real threat to your data and money, and unfortunately, they are not going away anytime soon. Scammers are constantly finding new ways to trick people. Though several measures exist to stop robocalls, using the right tools is essential to defend against these unwanted calls.

Switching to a VoIP phone system can be particularly effective among the various methods to stop robocalls. It provides you with various communication features, including call screening and IVR, that play a crucial role in stopping robocalls. Calilio allows you to efficiently filter out potential spam calls, adding an extra layer of protection to reduce the risk of scams and keep your personal information safe.

When you call back a robocall, the scammers confirm that your number is active. It can lead to more robocalls in the future.

Robocals are automated calls that often deliver pre-recorded messages. In contrast, spam calls can be any unwanted calls, including robocalls.

Scammers, telemarketers, and different organizations often use robocalls through automated systems. They use it for various purposes, including scams, marketing, or legitimate notifications.

Robocalls itself cannot hack your phone. However, hackers may use it to steal your sensitive information or download malicious software.

Scammers can use robocalls to steal your identity. They trick you into giving out personal information that can be used for identity theft.

Robocalls do not track your location directly. However, some robocalls may use location-based spoofing to make it seem like the call is coming from your area.

Landline users can use *61 to block robocalls. It is used to block unknown numbers getting through landlines manually.

Call-blocking tools can effectively block robocalls. IOS and Android devices come with call-blocking features that can help you filter out unwanted calls, including robocalls.

Scammers can make money through robocalls. They make money by selling products, collecting personal information, or conducting fraudulent activities.