How to Block Spam Calls and Robocalls on iPhone & Android

The fastest way to cut spam calls is to turn on your phone's built-in call silencing, register your number on the Do Not Call list, and add a scam-blocking app that screens callers before your phone rings. On iPhone, that means Silence Unknown Callers. On Android, it is Caller ID & spam protection. Add the Getshure app's Scam Shield on top, and most junk calls stop reaching you.

Below is the plain-English version, step by step, for both phones. We also show you what to do when a real scam slips through and what the Getshure app does that your phone's settings cannot.

Why you are getting so many spam calls

Spam callers buy phone numbers in bulk from data broker sites and leaked lists. They use auto-dialers to ring millions of numbers a day, and they spoof caller ID so the call looks like it is coming from your area code, your bank, or a government agency. The FCC and FTC both track robocall complaints and publish guidance for consumers.

You cannot stop scammers from dialing, but you can stop most of their calls from reaching your screen. Three layers work together:

1. Your phone's built-in settings.
2. Your carrier's free spam-blocking tool.
3. A scam-blocking app like Getshure.

Block spam calls on iPhone

1. Turn on Silence Unknown Callers

This is the single biggest switch on an iPhone. It sends every caller who is not in your Contacts straight to voicemail. You will still see the call in Recents and the voicemail if they leave one.

1. Open Settings.
2. Scroll to Apps → Phone (on older iOS, just Phone).
3. Tap Silence Unknown Callers.
4. Turn it on.

Trade-off: a legitimate caller you have never spoken to (a doctor's office, a delivery driver) will also be silenced. If you expect a call from a new number, turn this off for the day or watch Recents.

2. Block individual numbers

1. Open the Phone app and tap Recents.
2. Tap the small i next to the number.
3. Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.

3. Filter unknown texts, too

Many spam callers also text. Go to Settings → Apps → Messages and turn on Filter Unknown Senders. Unknown texts will appear in a separate tab and will not trigger a notification.

4. Turn on Focus during work or sleep

Use Settings → Focus to allow calls only from Contacts or Favorites during certain hours. This is useful overnight even if you leave Silence Unknown Callers off.

Block spam calls on Android

Menus vary a little between Samsung, Pixel, Motorola and others, but the names are close.

1. Turn on Caller ID & spam protection

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap the three-dot menu and choose Settings.
3. Tap Caller ID & spam (or Spam and Call Screen on Pixel).
4. Turn on See caller & spam ID and Filter spam calls.

On Pixel phones, also turn on Call Screen. Google Assistant can answer unknown calls, ask who is calling, and show you a transcript so you can decide whether to pick up.

2. Block individual numbers

1. Open the Phone app and go to Recents.
2. Press and hold the number.
3. Tap Block or Block / report spam.

3. Send unknown callers to voicemail (Samsung)

On Samsung Galaxy phones, open Phone → menu → Settings → Block numbers and turn on Block unknown/private numbers. On Pixel, open Phone → menu → Settings → Blocked numbers and turn on Unknown.

Use your carrier's free spam tool

Every major US carrier offers a free spam-blocking app or feature. These work at the network level, so they stop many calls before they reach your phone at all.

• AT&T — ActiveArmor (free tier).
• Verizon — Call Filter (free tier).
• T-Mobile — Scam Shield (free tier).

Open your carrier's account or app and look for the spam or call-protection section. Do not type the carrier URL from a text message — open the app you already have, or type the address into your browser yourself.

Register with the Do Not Call list

The National Do Not Call Registry is run by the FTC. It stops legitimate telemarketers from calling you, which thins the noise so real scam calls are easier to spot. It does not stop criminals — they already ignore the law — but it still helps.

1. Go to donotcall.gov.
2. Register your mobile and landline numbers.
3. Confirm the email they send.

Registration does not expire. If a telemarketer still calls after 31 days, you can file a complaint at the same site.

Add Scam Shield from the Getshure app

Phone settings and carrier filters catch a lot. They miss newer scam numbers that have not been reported yet, and they do not help you look up a number that already called. That is where the Scam Shield feature in the Getshure app comes in.

Scam Shield in the Getshure app:

• Identifies likely scam and spam callers before you pick up.
• Helps you block robocalls in bulk.
• Lets you look up an unknown number to see if it has been reported.

The app is included with every Getshure protection plan, which also covers an encrypted vault for private photos and files, data broker removal, a breach check for your email and passwords, tracker blocking, family location sharing and more. Read the full feature list in The Getshure App: What It Does and What It Can't Do.

No app blocks every scam call — new numbers appear every day — but Scam Shield catches many more than built-in settings alone and gives you a quick way to check a suspicious number before you call back.

How to get the Getshure app

• Android: install from Google Play, then sign in with the email you used on your Getshure order.
• iPhone: use the download link in your Getshure order confirmation email, then sign in with the same order email.

Need help activating? Follow Getshure App Sign In: How to Activate After Your Order.

What to do when a scam call still gets through

Even with every filter on, one will eventually land. Here is how to handle it calmly.

1. Do not press any buttons. "Press 1 to speak to an agent" or "Press 2 to be removed" tells the auto-dialer your line is live, and you will get more calls.
2. Hang up on anyone who creates urgency. Real IRS agents, Social Security staff, Medicare reps and bank fraud teams do not threaten arrest, demand gift cards, or ask you to move money to a "safe account."
3. Call the real number yourself. Use the number on the back of your card, your statement, or the agency's site that you type in yourself. Never trust the number the caller gave you.
4. Block and report the number. Report scam calls to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and, if money was lost, to the FBI at ic3.gov.

For step-by-step instructions, read How to Report a Scam in the US: FTC, IC3 and Your Bank.

Common scam call scripts to recognize

• "This is the IRS. A warrant has been issued for your arrest." See IRS Scam Call.
• "Your Social Security number has been suspended." See Social Security Scam Calls.
• "Grandma? I'm in jail and I need bail money." See The Grandparent Scam in the AI Era.
• "This is your bank. We see suspicious activity — read me the code we just texted." See Fake Bank Text Message.

The book that explains the bigger picture

Robocalls are only the tip of the iceberg. AI-generated voices, cloned family members and deepfake video calls are already here, and they show up right alongside the junk calls you are blocking.

Our hardcover Don't Get Screwed by AI walks you through the scams showing up on American phones in plain English — voice cloning, fake bank calls, toll-text schemes, romance scams and more — with scripts, checklists and what to do in the first ten minutes if you get caught. It is $29 with free US shipping on orders of $40 and up, and it is backed by our 30-day money-back guarantee.

If one scam call and a $29 book keeps you from losing thousands, that is a trade worth making.

Your quick checklist

• iPhone: turn on Silence Unknown Callers and Filter Unknown Senders.
• Android: turn on Caller ID & spam and (Pixel) Call Screen.
• Activate your carrier's free spam filter (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile).
• Register at donotcall.gov.
• Install the Getshure app and turn on Scam Shield.
• Never press buttons on a robocall — just hang up.
• Report scam calls at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Why readers choose Getshure

Getshure is operated by MetaWise Enterprises, LLC, a Delaware company (file number 10336625) based at 11772 W Sample Rd, Ste 103, Ofc 240, Coral Springs, FL 33065. You can call us at (754) 812-1679 Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern, or email contact@getshure.com.

Every plan comes with:

• A 30-day money-back guarantee on every charge, renewal and add-on — no reason needed.
• One-step cancel from the link in your email or at getshure.com/cancel.
• A reminder email about 3 days before any renewal.
• Real US phone support.

Our pricing and policies are written down so you can read them before you buy: subscription terms, refund policy and about us. If you want to vet us further first, start with Is GETSHURE Legit? Who We Are and How to Check Us.

Ready to stop the junk?

Pick one next step right now:

• Install the Getshure app on Android via Google Play (iPhone users: use the link in your order email).
• Order Don't Get Screwed by AI for the plain-English playbook.
• Call us at (754) 812-1679 if you'd rather talk to a person first.

Quiet your phone today. Protect the rest of your digital life this week.