Online & Offline Security

How To Block Scam Likely Calls, And SMS

Here are some tips and tricks that will help you to know how to block scam likely calls and SMS, and also to spot scams when they happen:

Best Ways On How To Block Scam Likely Calls And SMShow to block scam likely calls

1. Be Careful With Numbers You Don’t Know.

  • Don’t Answer: It’s usually best not to answer the phone if it comes from a number you don’t know. If it’s important, real callers will leave a voicemail.
  • Hang Up Right Away: If you answer the phone and the call seems sketchy or automatic, hang up right away.

2. Use Features That Block Calls

  • Do Not Answer Unknown Callers: Turn on features on your phone that will block calls from numbers that aren’t saved in your contacts. This way, those calls will go to voicemail instead of bothering you.
  • Apps That Block Calls: You could use apps from your provider (like AT&T’s ActiveArmor or Verizon’s Call Filter) or third-party apps that can find and block spam calls.

Alternatively, you can use TrueCaller, it’s an app for Android And iOS that has a big database of scam phone numbers, and a community where other members report spam/scam calls, so it’s a pretty useful tool on how to block scam likely calls and texts that allows you to block numbers instantly and even it screens calls from other members feedback so even if the number is not on your phonebook you will likely know who’s calling.

Also if you register using this link, you can access premium features for one week, if you invite your friends, you and your friends will get a free premium week as well, or you can upgrade to premium for a little price even when is not necessary as the free version should be enough.

 3. Report Calls and Texts That Seem Suspicious

  • Sending Spam Texts: If you get a strange text, send it to 7726 (SPAM) so that your cell phone company can look into it.
  • Report Calls: To help stop these scams, report scam calls to your phone company or the right officials, such as Action Fraud in the UK.

Report Spam SMS on Android:

Also, you can report spam on your phone (android) by going on your Messages app, tapping on an SMS, then on the top right corner you tap on the three dots symbol, and then tapping on “Block & Report Spam” also this option will forward the phone number to Google and carrier services for further investigation.

Report Spam SMS on iOS

1. Block Spam SMS on iPhone

Option 1: Block a Specific Sender

  1. Open the Messages app: Go to the Messages app from your home screen.
  2. Select the Spam Message: Open the conversation from the number or sender you want to block.
  3. Block the Sender:
    • Tap the Contact Name or Number at the top of the conversation.
    • Tap the info icon (i).
    • Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.
    • Confirm by tapping Block Contact.

2. Report Spam SMS (iMessage Only)

If the spam message was sent via iMessage, you can report it to Apple:

  1. Open the Spam iMessage: Open the message you suspect to be spam.
  2. Report the Message: A “Report Junk” option will appear at the bottom of the conversation.
    • Tap Report Junk.
    • Confirm by tapping Delete and Report Junk. This will send the message and the sender’s information to Apple and delete the conversation from your device.

4. Don’t Deal With Possible Scammers

  • Don’t Talk: Don’t speak to the caller, even if they tell you to press a number to stop getting calls. This can prove that your phone number is still working, which can lead to more scams.
  • Do Not Disclose Private Data: Don’t give out personal information like Social Security numbers or bank account numbers over the phone unless you made the call and are sure the other person is who they say they are.

How to Block Scam Likely Calls, And How To Spot Them During Call
How to block scam likely calls

1. Keep An Eye Out for Warning Signs

  • Need And Pressure: Scammers often make things seem urgent by threatening to sue or demanding payment right away. Legitimate organizations won’t usually push you to act right away.
  • Be aware of scammers using any of your family members or friends using voice cloning with AI, as they can impersonate anyone, if they call from a different number than usual, suspect, and try to reach them to their original number to confirm they are who they claim.
  • Strange Requests: Be careful of people who ask for money in unusual ways, like gift cards or wire transfers. Businesses that are legit will offer safe ways to pay.

2. Check The Caller’s Identity

  • Call Back Using Real Numbers: If someone calls you and says they are from a reputable company, hang up and call them back using a number from their website or your account statement.
  • They Use Generic Greetings: Scammers might not call you by name, but instead use a general welcome like “Dear Customer.”

3. Listen To your Gut

Trust your gut and end the call if something doesn’t seem right about the talk or the person calling. Being careful is better than taking a chance on falling for a scam.

4. Learn About The Most Common Scams

Keep up with the latest scams and how they work. Being aware can make it much less likely that you will be scammed.

There are plenty of videos on YouTube of scam hunters, who expose their tactics, some videos turn out even funny as they completely play around with scammers but in general, these videos can help you have a bigger picture on how to block scam likely calls and how to spot them in middle of calls.

By using these tips and learning to spot warning signs during calls, you can better protect yourself from scam calls and texts, making it safer to talk to people. These tools are very useful especially for elderly people as they are some of the most targeted by scammers.

For even further tips on how to block scam likely calls and texts, and to overall enhance your security, you can check: Why a Daily Security Mindset Matters

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