7 Methods To Stop Robocalls On Android Phones

Robocall is an automated call that uses an autodialer to connect and deliver pre-recorded messages. The mechanical non-responsive voice makes it easier to identify such calls. You can hear Robocalls in telemarketing, public services, emergency announcements, etc.

However, this call service is also prone to scams. One famous example of fraud is stock trading. You get a call about an xx profitable stock; they got insider information and asked clients to buy this stock.

Initially, this scam strategy worked well and scammed millions of dollars. In 2021, America alone lost approximately 29 billion dollars through these scam calls.

 This article will discuss different methods to stop or block Robocalls and Spamcalls on your Android smartphone.

how to stop robocalls on android

Learn how to stop robocalls on android Device

Your phone starts vibrating with a caller tune, and you see an unknown number caller ID displayed on the screen. These calls from unknown sources are telemarketing or scam calls in most cases.

These scam calls include inquiries from the IRS(Internal Revenue Service), warranty expiration of your vehicle, insurance claims, and bank account service(Card details, OTP, etc.).

    The law enforcement agencies and lawmakers made corresponding regulations to tackle these scams. However, legislation can help citizens from getting scammed. But active participation from people is also a necessary condition to protect our privacy from being breached. 

If you want to get rid of these annoyances and achieve peace, then there are some counter methods that you should be aware of. Several blocking strategies are available nowadays; Android and Apple smartphones now include a built-in call block list. 

Also, there is a national Do Not Call registry that you can register with your phone number. Third-party apps such as Truecaller, RoboKiller, and Call control can also be installed and add an extra line of defense to your privacy.

how to stop robocalls on android Device

  1. Reject Anonymous/Hidden Caller ID To Block Spam Calls.
  2. Register Your Number In The National Do Not Call Registry List.
  3. Avail Telecom Company DND Feature To Block Unwanted Calls.
  4. Download & Install The Best Apps From App Store.
  5. Smartphone Brands That Block Robocalls/Spammers Automatically
  6. Block Individual Phone Numbers
  7. Set Your Phone On Do Not Disturb Mode(DND) To Silence Unknown Callers
  8. Bonus Tips

Reject Anonymous/Hidden Caller ID To Block Spam Calls

Most Robocalls Caller ID is displayed as ‘Hidden,’ ‘Private,’ or ‘Unknown.’ And human beings and telemarketing calls use visible caller IDs. So if you get a call citing the above keywords being displayed on your smartphone, then chances are that you got a Robocall. 

You can enable the setting ‘Block calls from hidden numbers. Your smartphone will automatically reject calls from hidden and unknown sources.

  • Tap the gear icon and open the Settings app on your Android smartphone.
  • Depending on the smartphone brand, the blocklist navigation may vary. But you can enter ‘blocklist,’ ‘block,’ or ‘Call Settings’ in the search bar.
  • Tap Blocklist.
  • Tap on the Call Blocklist option.
  • Tap the gray button beside the option ‘Block Calls from Hidden numbers.’ The controller will turn blue when enabled.
Tap the gray button beside the option ‘Block Calls from Hidden numbers’.

Alternatively, you can install third-party apps such as Truecallers or Hiya and enable the setting to block calls from hidden numbers automatically.

Register Your Number In The National Do Not Call Registry List

Since the rise in scam calls and an annual loss of a massive amount of money, lawmakers have made extensive regulations to curb its growth. The National Do Not Call registry is one of the outcomes of these regulations.

Suppose you register your number in the Do Not Call registry. In that case, you are opting out of calls from telemarketing or calls of a business nature. But you are still entitled to receive calls from political groups, campaigns, charity, and fundraisers.

Technically, the above regulations are correct. But this Dot Not Call registry policy doesn’t stop the telemarketers from calling you. The same is true for the fraudsters.

They don’t precisely follow the government directives. It is still advisable to register your number in your country’s Do Not Call registry. Registering your number with the registry is better than doing nothing, and it’s free.

Below is a list of countries that have rolled out the national DND registry.

  1. Do Not Call Registry(Australia).
  2. National Do Not Call List(Canada).
  3. National Customer Preference Registry(India)
  4. New Zealand Name Removal Service(New Zealand).
  5. Telephone Preference Service(United Kingdom).
  6. National Do Not Call Registry(United States).
  7. Do Not Call Registry(Singapore).
  8. Bloctel(France).

Joining the Do Not Call is easy. For example, if you wish to join USA’s Do Not Call registry, go to donotcall.gov and register your smartphone or landline number. Alternatively, you can also call 1-888-382-1222 from the number you want to register for the DND service.

In India, if you want to avail of the NCPR(National Customer Preference Register) service, then text “DND’ or “0”(depending on the carrier) to 1909 from the number that you want to register.

Go to donotcall.gov and register your smartphone or landline number.

Avail Telecom Company DND Feature To Block Unwanted Calls

All major telecom companies have DND features available for their customers. And the world’s top telecom companies provide tools to identify Caller IDs, Filtering, and block suspected spam calls. Let’s look at some of the leading telecom companies’ call protection services.

All major telecom companies have DND features available for their customers. And the world’s top telecom companies provide tools to identify Caller IDs, Filtering, and block suspected spam calls. Let’s look at some of the leading telecom companies’ call protection services.

1. AT&T

AT&T, being the largest telecom service provider globally with over 150 billion dollars in revenue, AT&T provides an app called AT&T Call Protect for both Android and iOS platforms. The features provided by AT&T include:

  • Identifying and blocking spam calls and robocalls.
  • List off potential telemarketing caller IDs.
  • Diverting non-contact calls directly into voicemail.
  • Custom blocklists.
  • Accepts user feedback on robocalls that passes through the filter.

The essential AT&T services can be availed free of cost. And you can also upgrade to AT&T Call Protect Plus with additional features such as reverse lookup of unknown numbers, customized call filter options, etc.

AT&T Call Protect App on Android

2. Verizon Communications

Verizon stands in second place in terms of revenue earned. It provides users with the Call Filter app and boasts of the feat of identifying 300 million+ spam calls and scam phone numbers. The features provided by Verizon Communications are similar to AT&T and upgradations of Call Filter to Call Filter Plus for a small number of fees per month.

Verizon Call Filter app on Android

Download & Install The Best Apps From App Store

Third-party apps are another way to block or identify Robocalls(spam). The advantage of third-party apps is that they have an advantage in gathering data. For example, if one person gets a spam call, registers the number in the app, and lists it as a spam call. Then other app users can also receive this reminder whenever they get a call from the same number. 

   Also, the app regularly updates its database. It makes you aware of the latest scam strategies used by scammers and cheaters.

Some of the best third-party apps to block Robocalls and Spam calls are:

  1. Truecaller

Truecaller is available for both Android and iOS smartphones. Truecaller has 300 Million monthly active users around the globe. The main features provided by this app are Caller ID identification, call history, contacts, and Spam call blockers. 

Truecaller app on Android

Truecaller automatically blocks calls deemed spam calls, and the user’s manually added blocklist. You can avail the basic features of Truecaller for free. And a small amount of $2.99 per month is required to enjoy Premium services.

  1. Hiya- Caller ID & Block

Hiya is another good alternative for the third-party spam call blocklist app. The app provides caller ID protection, call history, blocklist numbers from calling and messaging, etc. 

Another feature of Hiya is to reverse-search an unknown phone number. It can determine if the incoming call is fraudulent or legit? Also, Hiya- Caller Id & block is free without ads.

Hiya- Caller ID & Block app on Android
  1. Call Control

Call Control is another free app that you can use to manage your communications. This app comes with basic features such as Call history and a call block list to avoid annoying Robocalls, scam calls, telemarketing calls, etc.

Call Protect app on Android.

The Do Not Disturb feature allows you to set a schedule. You are free from external communication, including calls and messaging. It helps block text messages from unknown sources or telemarketers. It enables you to make your Inbox clean and tidy.

Other apps installed on your Android smartphones are CallApp, Avast Mobile Security & Antivirus, Whoscall, Call Blacklist, Mr. Number, Nomorobo, t-mobile Scam Shield app, etc.

Smartphone Brands That Block Robocalls/Spammers Automatically

Now smartphone brands also rolled out models with built-in call protection features. This feature prevents unknown calls that are suspected of Robocalls or scam calls.

Some examples of such Android brands are Samsung Galaxy and Note smartphones. Samsun provides a Smart Call feature that automatically screens and makes suspicious numbers.

   Google has also released similar built-in features in models like the Pixel phones and Android One. Google Android users can get a warning if a call is suspected of spam.

Block Individual Phone Numbers

Suppose you’re getting robocalls from a particular organization or a group. In that case, you can try to add the phone number to the block list of your smartphone.

And there are chances that you get calls from the same group with a different caller ID. So this solution works best when you get calls from a repeating caller ID.

  • Open the Phone app on your Android smartphone.
  • Press & hold onto the number that you want to block.
Press & hold onto the number that you want to block.
  • Or, you can tap the options icons beside the selected number.
  • Scroll down the options and tap on Block.
Scroll down the options and tap on Block.
  • Tap Yes, when prompted like this “Block this Phone number?”
Tap Yes, when you are prompted like this “Block this Phone number?”

Alternatively, you can also access the blocklist from the Android settings app.

  • Open the Settings app with a gear icon.
  • The navigation to the blocklist can slightly vary depending on the brand of smartphone you are using. But you can search for “block” or “blocklist” in the search field.
  • Enable the Blocklist feature. Tap on the gray button. It will turn blue when enabled.
Enable the Blocklist feature. Tap on the gray button. It will turn blue when enabled.
  • Tap on Blocked numbers.
  • You can add the numbers you want to block to the list.

Set Your Phone On Do Not Disturb Mode(DND) To Silence Unknown Callers

You can also use the DND(Do Not Disturb) feature with Android smartphones. The Do Not Disturb feature mutes all calls, alerts, and notifications. Also, you can customize which calls or alerts can pass through this feature and only unknown silence callers.

   However, doing this can only make the persons listed on your phone pass through the DND feature, and you will miss some calls from outside. 

   This feature can also be scheduled when you are at an important meeting with your team or client.

Bonus Tips

And lastly, there may be a slight chance for a suspected spam call or Robocall to get through all of the above filters. If this is the case, you might have to rely on experience or common sense to identify them as scams.

  • Suppose the voice is non-responsive and gives a mechanical feeling(like Microsoft’s Voice Assistant- Cortana). In that case, it can indeed be a Robocall. 
  • No Bank will actively call its customer and ask for their account and card details. So if you get a call posing as a bank executive asking for the above information, then outright reject them as they are scammers.
  • Do not tap numbers on your dial pad if you’re asked to do. You can only use this feature when actively dialing a customer care number. Tapping on the dial-pad during a call helps scammers mark their targets, who are more likely to get hooked. And these users may get more calls in the future.
  • Always check the area code or country code. The chances are that international scammers target you.

Conclusion

Today the entire world is marching into the digital world. Your whole life history is saved in the online database. Along with this comes vulnerability, such as compromises on user privacy and cybercrimes. 

Scam calls can be counted as cybercrime as they are used to steal essential pieces of information from users, including monetary details. Scam calls include Robocalls, Spamcalls, and Fraudcalls.

So being generally aware of how this scam is organized and executed is essential. Learn to counter these scam calls so that you won’t get scammed ever in the future, or also popularize this knowledge among your friends and family.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

What Is The Best Free Robocall Blocker App For Androids & IPhones?

Suppose you use Telecomm services from major telecom companies like AT&T and Verizon Communications. In that case, you can use AT&T Call Protect, Verizon’s Call Filter app. Suppose you want to use third-party call blocker apps. In that case, Truecaller, Hiya- Caller Id & Block, Call Blacklist, Mr. Number, t-mobile Scam Shield, and Call Control are some of the best call blocker apps available for Android smartphones.

How Do I Stop Robocalls On My Android For Free?

Registering your number for the National Do Not Call registry is free to block some annoying Robocalls. Another free way to stop robocalls is by installing third-party call blocker apps such as the Truecaller, Hiya, Call Control, etc. And thirdly, you can annually add spam call numbers to your smartphone’s Call Blacklist.

Do Blocking Robocalls Help?

Yes, call blocking can help your smartphone from being harassed by robocalls. But you cannot stop all robocalls because Robocalls might get through your blocklist with a new number that is not present on your blocklist. 

Is There A Free Robocall Blocker App?

Hiya: Caller ID & Block and Call Control are two of the best Robocall blocker apps available online. Both apps provide similar basic features such as Call history and a call block list to avoid annoying Robocalls, scam calls, telemarketing calls, etc.