How to block scam calls on any phone — free, no apps required

Stopping scam calls doesn't require a paid app. The built-in settings on iPhone and Android, your carrier's free spam-shield service, and the National Do Not Call Registry together block the overwhelming majority of unwanted calls — robocalls, telemarketers, and live-caller scams. This guide walks through the exact steps for each device and carrier, plus what to do for landlines and what does <em>not</em> work (the press-1-to-be-removed myth).

On iPhone (iOS)

1. Open Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers and toggle it on. Calls from numbers not in your contacts go straight to voicemail.
2. Open Settings → Messages → Filter Unknown Senders. Routes texts from unknown senders to a separate inbox.
3. For carrier-level filtering, install your carrier's free app (AT&T ActiveArmor, Verizon Call Filter, or T-Mobile Scam Shield).

On Android

1. Open the Phone app → Settings → Spam and Call Screen and enable both filtering and Google's call screen if available.
2. Open Messages → Settings → Spam protection and enable.
3. For carrier-level filtering, enable your carrier's free spam-shield (same options as iPhone).

On a landline

Most modern landlines support a hardware call-blocker that sits between the phone and the wall. Free options include Nomorobo for VoIP landlines (Verizon Fios, Comcast Voice). For traditional copper landlines, register on the National Do Not Call Registry and ask your provider whether STIR/SHAKEN-based filtering is available on your line.

Register on the National Do Not Call Registry

Go to donotcall.gov and add every line you want to register. The Registry stops legitimate telemarketing — it does not stop scammers, who are already breaking the law — but eliminating real telemarketing makes the remaining calls easier to identify as scams.

What does NOT work

• "Press 1 to be removed from this list" — pressing any key confirms your number is active and increases calls.
• Answering silently to "exhaust" the dialer — auto-dialers don't get tired; they just retry.
• Calling back to tell them to stop — confirms your line is live; for premium-rate Wangiri scams it also costs you money.

When you do get a scam call, report it

Submit the number to ScamRadar's report form so the next person searching that number sees the warning. File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FCC at fcc.gov/consumers — both feed federal robocall enforcement. For more on the underlying patterns see our phone-scams hub.

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