How to stop spam calls and messages on your phone
Most spam is a nuisance, but some of it is a scam. The steps below cut the nuisance and make the dangerous calls easier to ignore.
Step 1: block and report as they arrive
- Android: open the call in your Phone app, then look for Block or Block and report spam.
- iPhone: open the call in Phone > Recents, tap the i next to the number, then Block this Caller. For messages, open the message, tap the sender and look for Block.
Step 2: switch on spam protection
- Android: in the Phone app settings, look for Caller ID and spam and turn it on.
- iPhone: in Settings > Phone, look for Silence Unknown Callers. Calls from numbers not in your contacts go to voicemail. In Messages, look for Filter Unknown Senders.
The catch with silencing unknown callers: a real call from a delivery rider or a bank may also be silenced. Check your missed calls.
Step 3: protect WhatsApp
Open the chat, tap the name, and use Block or Report. In WhatsApp Settings > Privacy, look at who can add you to groups and who can call you, and tighten them. See how to protect your WhatsApp account.
Step 4: stop feeding the lists
- Do not reply to unknown messages, even “STOP”. It can confirm that your number is active.
- Do not tap links in unexpected messages.
- Do not enter your number on random sites for a “free” offer.
Never share these
Never read out an OTP, PIN, card number or CNIC to a caller, however official they sound. A real bank or operator does not ask for your OTP. More in how to spot phone scams.
Report it
If a number keeps calling after you block it, or a message looks like fraud, report it to your mobile operator and to the regulator through their official complaint channels. Check their websites for the current contact method.
