Spam calls are on the rise, and to keep yourself and your business safe from scammers, you need to nip them in the bud. But if your phone number is posted publicly or if you’ve been put on an unknown list what can you do to stop the influx? Here are 5 things you can start doing to block those pesky spammers.
Use a Spam Flagger
If you use an Android, check out the spam option in the Phone app. It flags spam calls with a red banner with the option to block the number or whitelist it if it’s mistakenly identified. While it’s not perfect, you can quickly help your phone identify what is and isn’t spam by flagging what it doesn’t catch.
Try Call Barring
If you know that any international calls are going to be spam, there’s an easy fix available for you. In Android’s settings under Call, check for an option called Call Barring. You can use this feature to block calls by type, for example, international numbers. If you know you never need an international number, bar those, and it might stem the tide a bit. Just remember the setting exists if you do need to take overseas calls someday.
Create a Whitelist
A whitelist is a contact log of pre-approved calls. You’ll need to get a third-party app and give it access to your contacts, so be careful to get one that’s well reviewed by a lot of people but there are several. They all work in a similar way by only allowing calls through that are from numbers you’ve previously authorized. Whitelists can be particularly effective if you know you only need calls, say, from your contacts list.
Use Exceptions to Do Not Disturb
On Samsung Galaxy devices, you can leave do not disturb on but allow calls only from contacts or even favorite contacts. A similar option is available on iOS devices. If you’re confident that the only calls you should be getting are from known numbers, this is a great way to protect your device.
Try a Roboblocker
Roboblocker’s like Nomorobo are a good way to identify and block robocalls before they make it through to you. The paid version of Nomorobo claims to add more than 1,000 robocall numbers to its blacklist every day. You can report numbers if one slips through, which helps improve the database. If you need to filter out the worst of the worst and are willing to let the occasional spam caller through your defenses, this is a good option for you.
If you’re looking for more help in defending your digital security, we’re on your side. Connect with the privacy specialist at Happy Faces Records Management today.
