Spam Calls Plague Phones: Here's How to Fight Back

A three-layer defense using built-in phone features, free carrier apps, and third-party blockers can help reclaim your device from relentless spam calls.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 7:22pm

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Spam calls have become a constant nuisance, with over 40% of Americans refusing to answer unknown numbers. However, there are effective ways to combat this problem using the built-in features of your phone, free carrier apps, and third-party call blocking services. By layering these defenses, you can catch the obvious robocalls, identify spoofed local numbers, and stay ahead of the latest scam patterns.

Why it matters

Spam calls have become a widespread issue, disrupting daily life and causing frustration for many. This story provides practical solutions for users to regain control of their phones and reduce the impact of these unwanted calls, which can range from annoying to potentially harmful if they involve scams or identity theft.

The details

Both Android and iOS devices come with built-in spam-fighting features, such as Call Screen and automatic spam detection on Android, and Silence Unknown Callers and Screen Unknown Callers on iOS. These tools can catch the most obvious spam calls. Carrier apps like AT&T's ActiveArmor, Verizon's Call Filter, and T-Mobile's Scam Shield provide an additional layer of defense by tapping into large databases to identify spoofed numbers and known scammer tactics. For the most advanced protection, third-party apps like RoboKiller and Truecaller use crowdsourced intelligence and aggressive blocking to stay ahead of evolving spam tactics.

  • Spam calls have become an increasingly prevalent issue in recent years.
  • In 2024, the introduction of features like Call Screen on Android and Screen Unknown Callers on iOS marked a significant step in combating spam calls.

The players

Annemarije de Boer

A Los Angeles-based director and visual storyteller specializing in technology reviews and digital innovation journalism, with expertise in areas like blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, and digital security.

Android

The mobile operating system developed by Google, which includes built-in features like Call Screen and automatic spam detection to combat spam calls.

iOS

The mobile operating system developed by Apple, which includes built-in features like Silence Unknown Callers and Screen Unknown Callers to combat spam calls.

AT&T

A major U.S. telecommunications company that offers the ActiveArmor app to help customers detect and block spam calls.

Verizon

A major U.S. telecommunications company that offers the Call Filter app to help customers detect and block spam calls.

T-Mobile

A major U.S. telecommunications company that offers the Scam Shield app to help customers detect and block spam calls.

RoboKiller

A third-party app that uses crowdsourced intelligence and aggressive blocking to combat spam calls, including the ability to waste scammers' time with bot responses.

Truecaller

A third-party app that uses crowdsourced intelligence and aggressive blocking to combat spam calls.

FTC

The Federal Trade Commission, which maintains the Do Not Call Registry to help stop legitimate telemarketers from calling consumers.

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What they’re saying

“That moment when your phone buzzes during an important meeting, and you're genuinely unsure if it's your boss or someone selling extended car warranties.”

— Annemarije de Boer, Technology journalist

“Sure, actual scammers ignore it completely, but it stops legitimate telemarketers and gives you legal grounds to report violations.”

— Annemarije de Boer, Technology journalist

What’s next

Consumers can take the following steps to further protect themselves from spam calls: • Register their phone number with the FTC's Do Not Call Registry to stop legitimate telemarketers • Regularly update their phone's operating system and carrier app to ensure they have the latest spam-fighting features • Consider subscribing to a premium third-party call blocking service for the most comprehensive protection

The takeaway

Spam calls have become a persistent problem, but by using a layered defense approach that combines built-in phone features, carrier apps, and third-party blockers, consumers can effectively reclaim control of their phones and reduce the impact of these unwanted calls. This multi-pronged strategy is key to staying ahead of evolving spam tactics.