How to Stop Spam Calls and Texts on iPhone and Android

Spam calls and unwanted text messages can be more than an annoyance. Some attempt to steal passwords, payment information, identity documents or access to online accounts.

Both iPhone and Android include tools that can identify, filter, silence, block and report suspicious communications. The available settings may vary according to your phone model, operating-system version, mobile carrier and country.

This guide explains how to reduce unwanted calls and messages without accidentally blocking every legitimate caller.

Quick Spam Protection Checklist

Enable caller identification and spam protection.
Block and report repeated suspicious numbers.
Filter or screen unknown callers when appropriate.
Do not click links in unexpected text messages.
Do not provide passwords or verification codes to an incoming caller.
Contact companies using a number or website you already know is genuine.
Check whether your mobile carrier offers additional spam protection.
Review blocked and filtered communications periodically.

Important: Caller ID Can Be Faked

A familiar name, local telephone number or official-looking caller ID does not prove that the call is genuine.

Scammers can manipulate the number displayed on your screen. This is commonly known as caller ID spoofing.

A suspicious caller may pretend to represent:

Your bank or card issuer.
A government department.
A delivery company.
A mobile or internet provider.
A technology support company.
A family member experiencing an emergency.
A popular online store.

End the call and contact the organisation using the telephone number shown on its official website, your payment card or a genuine account statement.

How to Block a Specific Number on iPhone

Use this method when the same number repeatedly calls or sends unwanted messages.

From the Phone App

Open the Phone app.
Open Calls or Recents, depending on your layout.
Tap the information button beside the number.
Scroll down.
Tap Block Caller or Block Contact.
Confirm the action.

From Contacts

Open the Phone or Contacts app.
Select the contact.
Scroll to the bottom of the contact card.
Tap Block Contact.

From Messages

Open the conversation in Messages.
Tap the name or number at the top.
Open the contact or information screen.
Scroll down.
Tap Block Caller.

After blocking, the person may still be able to contact you through another telephone number, email address or application account.

How to Unblock a Number on iPhone

Open Settings.
Tap Apps.
Tap Phone.
Open Blocked Contacts.
Tap Edit.
Remove the number or contact from the blocked list.

Menu names may differ slightly on older iOS versions.

How to Screen or Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone

On supported iPhone versions, Apple provides options for handling callers who are not recognised.

Open Settings.
Tap Apps.
Tap Phone.
Find the unknown caller or call-screening settings.
Select the level of filtering you prefer.

Depending on the iOS version and country, options may include:

Never: unknown calls ring normally.
Ask Reason for Calling: the caller is asked to identify themselves before your iPhone rings.
Silence: unsaved numbers are silenced and sent to voicemail.

Some versions also provide separate filters for unknown callers and calls identified by your carrier as spam or fraud.

Should You Silence Every Unknown Caller?

This setting can reduce interruptions, but it may also silence legitimate calls from:

Doctors and hospitals.
Delivery drivers.
Schools.
Employers or recruiters.
Repair technicians.
Hotels or airlines.
Government services.
People using a new telephone number.

Check your voicemail and filtered call lists regularly. Add important numbers to Contacts when you recognise them.

How to Filter Unknown Messages on iPhone

iPhone can separate messages from unknown senders from conversations involving known contacts.

Open Settings.
Tap Apps.
Tap Messages.
Find the message filtering settings.
Enable the option to filter unknown senders when available.

After enabling filtering, check the relevant Unknown Senders or filtered section periodically. A legitimate message from a new contact may appear there.

How to Report Junk Messages on iPhone

When Apple displays a Report Junk option below a message from an unknown sender:

Open the suspicious message.
Tap Report Junk.
Confirm the report when requested.
Block the sender separately when necessary.

The exact options depend on the message type, carrier and iOS version. Reporting a message does not guarantee that every future message from another number will be blocked.

How to Enable Spam Call Protection on Android

Many Android phones use the Phone by Google application, although Samsung and other manufacturers may provide their own calling applications.

In Phone by Google:

Open the Phone app.
Tap the three-dot menu or More options.
Tap Settings.
Open Caller ID and spam.
Enable See caller ID and spam.
Enable Filter spam calls when that option is available.

On devices with automatic Call Screen, spam filtering may appear inside the Call Screen protection settings instead of as a separate switch.

How to Block and Report a Spam Call on Android

Open the Phone app.
Open recent calls or call history.
Tap or press and hold the suspicious call.
Select Block, Report spam or Block/report spam.
Confirm the action.

When a legitimate caller has been incorrectly labelled as spam, open the call record and select Not spam or the equivalent option.

How to Block a Number Manually on Android

The exact path varies by manufacturer, but a common method is:

Open the Phone app.
Open Recents or Call history.
Select the number.
Tap Block.
Confirm.

Some Android phones also allow you to block private, hidden or unknown numbers from the Phone app settings.

Use that option carefully because businesses and public services sometimes call without displaying a normal number.

How to Enable Spam Protection in Google Messages

Open Google Messages.
Tap your profile picture or initials.
Tap Messages settings.
Open Spam protection.
Enable spam protection when the option is available.

Google Messages may automatically move messages it considers suspicious into a Spam and blocked folder.

How to Block and Report a Conversation in Google Messages

Open Google Messages.
Touch and hold the suspicious conversation.
Tap Block.
Select or confirm Report spam.
Tap OK.

You can also open the conversation, tap the menu, open its details and select Block and report spam.

Reporting is optional. You may be able to block a sender without submitting a spam report.

How to Find Blocked Messages on Android

In Google Messages:

Open the app.
Tap your profile picture or menu.
Open Spam and blocked.
Review the conversations.
Open a conversation and unblock it when it was classified incorrectly.

Do Not Reply to Suspicious Text Messages

A reply can confirm that your telephone number is active. It may also lead the sender to continue the conversation using urgency, fear or impersonation.

Do not reply to unexpected messages asking you to:

Confirm personal details.
Pay a delivery fee.
Verify a bank account.
Claim a prize.
Reset a password.
Prevent an account from being closed.
Move a conversation to another messaging app.
Send a one-time security code.
Purchase gift cards or cryptocurrency.

Block and report the message instead.

Never Click Unexpected Links

A text message may contain a link that appears similar to a genuine bank, delivery company or retailer.

Rather than opening the link:

Close the message.
Open the company’s official app yourself.
Type its known website address into the browser.
Check your account for the alleged alert.
Contact the company using verified contact information.

Before trusting an unfamiliar site, use this guide:

How to Check if a Website Is Safe Before Buying Online

Common Spam Call and Text Scenarios

Claim	Warning Sign	Safer Response
Your bank account is locked	Asks for password, PIN or verification code	Call the number printed on your card
A parcel cannot be delivered	Unexpected link requesting a small fee	Open the carrier’s official website manually
You owe taxes or a government fine	Threatens immediate arrest or payment	Contact the relevant authority independently
Your computer or phone is infected	Requests remote access or software installation	End the call and use trusted technical support
You won a prize	Requires payment before receiving it	Do not pay or provide information
A family member needs urgent money	Demands secrecy or an irreversible payment	Contact the family member through a known number
A subscription is renewing	Unexpected invoice with a telephone number	Check the account or billing provider directly

What to Do During a Suspicious Call

Do not provide personal or financial information.
Do not share a verification code.
Do not install an application requested by the caller.
Do not grant remote access to your screen.
Do not press telephone keys because the caller instructs you to.
Do not send money to “protect” an account.
End the call.
Contact the organisation independently.

A genuine organisation should allow you to end the call and contact it through an official number.

Can Spam Calls Continue After Blocking a Number?

Yes. Scammers frequently change numbers or imitate different caller IDs. Blocking remains useful against repeated calls from the same number, but it cannot prevent every future call.

For stronger protection, combine:

Individual number blocking.
Spam identification.
Automatic filtering.
Carrier-level protection.
Careful handling of unknown calls.

Check Your Mobile Carrier’s Protection

Many mobile carriers offer their own call-labeling or spam-filtering service. Some options are free and others require a paid plan.

Check the carrier’s official application or website for:

Spam call identification.
Automatic scam blocking.
Caller verification.
Message filtering.
Blocked number management.

Read the privacy terms and price before activating a third-party or carrier service.

Should You Install a Third-Party Call Blocking App?

A reputable blocking application may identify more suspicious numbers, but it may also request access to calls, contacts or other communication information.

Before installing one, examine:

The developer’s identity.
The application’s permissions.
Its privacy policy.
Independent reviews.
Whether it charges a subscription.
How to cancel that subscription.
Whether data is shared for advertising or analytics.

The built-in phone and carrier tools may be sufficient for many users.

What to Do if You Already Shared Information

Act quickly when you disclosed sensitive information or sent money.

Contact your bank or payment provider immediately.
Change affected passwords using the genuine website or application.
Enable multifactor authentication where available.
Tell the provider when a verification code was disclosed.
Check accounts for unfamiliar activity.
Contact your mobile carrier if you suspect SIM-related fraud.
Save the call number, message, screenshots and payment evidence.
Report the incident to the appropriate fraud authority in your country.

Do not pay a person who promises to recover stolen funds in return for an advance fee. Victims of one scam are frequently targeted again.

How to Report Spam in the United States

United States users can report:

Unwanted text messages through their messaging application.
Eligible unwanted texts by forwarding them to 7726, which spells SPAM.
Suspected fraud through the Federal Trade Commission’s reporting service.
Unwanted calls through the National Do Not Call reporting system where applicable.

Reporting options and numbers differ outside the United States. Use the official consumer-protection or communications authority for your country.

Spam Protection Comparison

Feature	iPhone	Android
Block individual caller	Phone, Contacts or Messages	Phone call history or contact options
Identify suspected spam	Carrier and supported identification services	Caller ID and spam protection
Silence unknown callers	Available in Phone settings	Availability varies by manufacturer
Screen calls before answering	Available on supported iPhone versions	Available on supported devices and countries
Report spam messages	Report Junk when available	Block and report in Google Messages
Carrier protection	Depends on mobile provider	Depends on mobile provider

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do Spam Callers Keep Changing Numbers?

Scammers may use many numbers or manipulate caller ID information. Blocking one number cannot stop every call from the same operation.

Will Blocking a Number Tell the Person?

The phone does not normally send the caller a direct notification saying that you blocked them. Their calls and messages may be handled differently according to the device and carrier.

Can Spam Filtering Block a Real Call?

Yes. Automated systems can make mistakes. Review voicemail, recent calls and filtered folders, especially when expecting an important call.

Should I Answer a Call Marked Spam?

There is no need to answer an unexpected call marked as suspected spam. Let it go to voicemail and independently verify any claim made by the caller.

Is It Safe to Reply STOP?

For a legitimate company you knowingly subscribed to, replying STOP may unsubscribe you. For an unexpected or clearly fraudulent message, use the phone’s block and report tools rather than replying.

Does the Do Not Call Registry Stop Scammers?

It may reduce lawful telemarketing calls, but scammers and illegal callers may ignore it. Call blocking and careful verification remain important.

More Phone and Security Guides

Bottom Line

Use the spam protection already included with your phone before paying for another application. Enable caller identification, filter obvious spam and block repeat offenders.

Do not trust a caller only because the displayed number looks familiar. Never share passwords, card PINs or verification codes during an unexpected call.

For suspicious text messages, avoid links and contact the organisation through a website, application or telephone number you independently verified.

Official Sources

Available menus and protection features may vary by device, operating-system version, mobile carrier, country and language.