What Are Potential Spam Calls and How to Block Them

Do you sometimes get a warning before answering calls on your phone? A “potential spam call” occurs when your phone alerts you that the incoming call may be from a scammer.

These calls often come from automated systems or people who are trying to trick you into giving away personal information. Your phone alerts you because it recognizes the numbers that have been reported as suspicious in the past.

In this blog, you will learn how to block spam calls quickly and with ease. You can avoid the hassle and stay safe knowing what could go wrong.

Let’s start the learning.

What Does “Potential Spam Call” Really Mean?

When you see a potential spam call on your phone, it means that the phone company or an app has flagged the number as suspicious. The number may be potentially dangerous or unwanted. It doesn’t mean the call is for sure spam, but it’s a warning.

These calls can come from robocalls, scammers, or companies. They might want to sell you something or take away personal details. The phone system uses data from other people who have reported the number as suspicious.

In case a number gets reported by many people, it gets marked as “Potential Spam call.” This helps protect you from answering calls that might cause problems. It’s important to note that even if a number or call is marked as “Potential Spam call,” it doesn’t mean it’s always bad.

But it’s always good to be cautious and not answer calls from unknown numbers. Now, let’s understand what could possibly go wrong if you pick up the call from such a number.

What Are Robocalls and How Are They Different?

Robocalls are automatic phone calls that have been recorded. That recorded message is later played to trick you and make you fall into the trap. These calls are made using a machine that can call many people at once.

Robocalls are more often happening around cause of that reason. Some robocalls are legal, like reminders from your doctor or teacher. But many are spam. These fake robocalls might say you owe us money or have a prize for you.

They try to trick you into clicking buttons or calling back. One easy way to find out it’s a robocall is the delay in the voice. If there’s silence before each voice talks, it’s probably a robocall. The voice might sound strange or too perfect.

Robocalls rarely allow you to talk or ask questions, creating a moment of panic or confusion. If you get a robocall, do not press any keys. You just need to hang up. If you press any buttons, you will question yourself, “Why am I getting so many spam calls daily?

What Could Go Wrong If You Pick Up?

If you pick up a potential spam call, you may face several risks. Scammers can trick you into giving your personal information. Such as your credit card number, social security number, or even your passwords.

They often try to mislead or scare you, such as by saying, “You owe money” or “You have won a prize.” Hoping you will act fast without thinking. Another risk is that spam callers might sell your number to other scammers. Which means you will get more unwanted calls.

Sometimes, spam calls can even infect your phone with malware if you click on links or answer prompts. So, it’s important to be cautious and hang up immediately if you don’t recognize the number. The safest option is to avoid answering calls from unknown numbers.

How Do Spam Callers Get Your Number?

Spam callers don’t always guess your number. They also have tricks to find out. Sometimes you sign up for something online, and your number is shared or sold without you knowing. Sometimes websites or apps ask for your number and then provide it to another company or firm.

Spammers use tools called “Number Generators.” These tools make random phone numbers fast. That’s how they find working ones and connect to them, like yours. They call or text many numbers to see which ones are real and currently active.

Another means by which they get your phone number is social media. If you post your phone number online or leave it in public forms, they will try to find out by any means. Even if you have shared your phone number once on an online platform, it can be out, copied, and passed around.

That’s the reason you should be smart enough and extra careful. Do not provide your number to people or websites you don’t trust. Remember to avoid posting your phone number in a way that anyone can see it publicly.

Innovative Ways to Block Spam Calls Fast

You don’t need to let spam calls bother you. There are many quick and easy ways to block them. Let us show you how to block spam calls.

1. Use Built-In Phone Features

If you are an Iphone user, you can turn on the Silence Unknown Callers feature in your settings. This way, calls from unknown numbers go straight to voicemail.

If you are an Android user, you can use the Caller ID & Spam feature in the phone settings. That automatically blocks known spam numbers before they can ring your phone. These systems are regularly updated to keep you protected from new scams.

2. Try Spam-Blocking Apps

You can also install some apps on your phone device to be safe from spam calls and fraud. Apps like Truecaller, Hiya, and Call Control can block spam calls automatically. These apps also show who’s calling, even if the number isn’t saved.

Many other apps like them are being developed, so use them freely to keep yourself secure and safe. You will know who’s calling before you answer, and also whether it’s an unsafe number or a potential spam call.

3. Get Help from Your Phone Company

Phone companies like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile offer services that can automatically filter out spam calls for you. These tools are free and easy to use.

Ask your mobile carriers how to turn them on, or get help from the internet to learn and use them. In order to keep you safe and updated, they will provide you with help and necessary instructions.

4. Block Numbers Manually

If a spam call gets through and calls, you can block the number right from your call logs or history. It’s not compulsory to stay depended on some apps or system help, you can block them directly yourself. By your own hand on your screen.

This stops spammers from calling you again and again, causing troublesome and threats. Don’t always wait for help; take action first by yourself.

5. Turn On “Do Not Disturb” Mode

Enabling “do not disturb” mode only allows your contact list to call; unknown numbers can’t call you.

Even if spammers or other unknown numbers call you, it goes straight to voicemail. So, someone else won’t be able to disturb you either way, mentally or by phone call.

Oops, You Answered. Now What?

Sometimes, it happens that you accidentally pick up a spam call. If this happens, hang up immediately and don’t respond to any questions. Scammers try to make you click on buttons or answer questionnaires. Which could lead to more calls and disturbances.

You just need to end the call as soon as possible and block the caller. Most phones have a feature that lets you block the number directly from the recent calls list. You can self-report the number to help others avoid it in the future.

The key is to hang up quickly, stay calm, and never give out your personal information over the phone.

Tips to Keep Your Phone Safe Always

There are a few simple habits you can follow to keep your phone safe from spam calls. Follow the simple tips mentioned below:

1. Turn on Spam Protection

You just need to go to your phone’s built-in settings and turn on the spam protection feature at all times. That will help you block potential spam calls before they even call, though some may still get a way through.

2. Use a Trusted App

What can you do for least? It is to download apps like Truecaller or Hiya to block bad calls. This app goes on updates often to catch new types of spam numbers. At least use them to secure yourself and your data.

3. Don’t Share Your Number Everywhere

Users are most requested to only share with those you know or have a connection with. Some websites also ask for your number, but only share it with trusted ones.

Using only apps and settings won’t help until you are self-aware. Do not post your number online, whether it’s on social media or any other platform.

4. Ignore Strange Messages

You shouldn’t reply to weird texts or links from anyone, as they can be tricky or sent by spammers. They can send you such links or texts to get you into the trap and extract your personal information. Delete messages and links of this kind as soon as you receive them.

5. Keep Your Phone Updated

You should always keep your phone software updated. As updates fix bugs, loopholes, and make your phone a safer device to use.

Your carelessness can cost you the most: your device, number, and personal information. Think about just not keeping updated software; you get into such risks. So, keep your phone updated and remove unnecessary texts and applications.

Conclusion

Spam calls have been a bigger problem nowadays. They consume your time to resolve, and can be dangerous in some scenarios. Some callers may try to steal your personal information or trick you.

That’s the reason why it’s important to stop them. You can block spam calls by using your phone’s settings, whether it’s iOS or Android. Apps like Truecaller and Hiya help you stay aware and block unwanted calls.

You can get help from your phone company to stop such kind of callers. It’s always a smart decision to be careful with your phone number and never answer strange texts or calls.

Kindly read the tips and suggestions available in this blog. They can help you stop spam calls, keep your devices safe, and make you aware. To be honest, don’t worry when a spam call hits you again; just block the number and move on.

With that saying, stay alert, stay safe, and enjoy using your phone with peace of mind.

FAQs

Can I get hacked by answering a spam call?

No, just answering a spam call won’t hack your phone. However, if you click on certain links or provide your personal information, it can be risky. It’s best to end the call right away.

Why do I still get spam calls after blocking some?

Spammers are quite smart nowadays; they have multiple phone numbers available. So, even if you block one of the numbers, they will get back to you from a new number.

Should I call back a number labeled as spam?

No, you should never call back a number labeled as spam unless you know the person or number. Calling back can lead to more scam calls and increase your phone charges or bill.

Are all unknown numbers spam?

Not always. Some might be real, like a doctor or a delivery. However, be cautious and verify before calling back. If you find something fishy, just hang up the call without thinking much.

Can kids get spam calls, too?

Yes, if the kids have a phone, they can receive spam calls because spammers also don’t know whether they are talking to kids or adults. Teach the kids not to answer strange or unknown numbers.