Tired of spam calls? Here's how to block them
Spam calls can be such a headache for those of us glued to our smartphones. These pesky calls can vary from annoying telemarketing pitches to sneaky phishing attempts, and they can really compromise our security. Luckily, if you're an Android user, your phone has some handy built-in features to help you identify and block these unwanted nuisances. So, let's dive into this easy step-by-step guide on how to turn on these features and keep those spam callers at bay!
Identifying spam calls
Spam callers can snag your number through all sorts of sneaky tricks, like creating fake charities or running bogus giveaways. Sometimes, they even buy lists of phone numbers from data providers. These spam calls can show up in various formats, whether it's an automated robocall or a person pretending to be a bank representative, fishing for your personal info under false pretenses. So, always stay alert and never share sensitive information during such calls.
Using your phone's built-in spam filter
There are tons of third-party apps out there boasting spam-filtering features, but honestly, we think it's best to stick with your phone's default dialer app for this task. To enable the spam filtering feature on the Google Phone app: Open the Phone app, then hit the three dots in the upper-right corner and tap on Settings. Next, go to Caller ID & spam in the Assistive section and toggle on Filter spam calls to block those annoying numbers automatically.
What if the spam filter is too sensitive?
Sometimes, Google can get a bit too carried away with its spam filtering and might block numbers that aren't even on your contact list. If you're facing this issue, just switch off the spam filtering feature and enable the See caller and spam ID option (which is right above the Filter spam calls toggle). This way, you'll see info and warnings when you get or make calls to suspected spam numbers.
Third-party apps can also block spam calls
If your phone's missing an in-built spam filter, you can always snag a third-party call-blocking app like Truecaller. However, a little heads-up: while most of these apps are pretty reliable, there's always a chance that a developer could sell or share your data. So, whenever you can, it's best to stick to the default spam filtering methods.
