How to get rid of spam calls on your phone - all the ways

If you are fed up with constant advertising spam on your phone, read our instructions on “how to get rid of calls from unknown numbers.” Telephone phishing is incredibly common today. The only people who have never encountered cold calling are the astronauts on the ISS, and that’s not a fact. All commercial companies that are concerned about expanding their consumer base “sin” with such annoying advertising. And where do they get our data from?

How to get rid of spam calls to your phone from unknown people and, at the same time, not miss important calls? There are two ways:

• Take advantage of the built-in capabilities of IOS and Android (antispam option);
• Install an additional application that will help you get rid of fraudulent calls from unknown people.

Below you will find detailed instructions that will help you get rid of unwanted calls on your mobile phone, both for iPhones and Android devices.

Where do spammers get your phone number?

Almost any number ends up in one database or another. How do they get there? There are a lot of ways to highlight your contact, for example:

• Internet “entrepreneurs” are constantly working on the network, who are specifically engaged in parsing other people’s data, while collecting telephone data, email, with subsequent resale
• a manager of any company who has access to data as a profit can sell a database containing all user data
• reusing the number (the previous owner could have left his phone details anywhere) involves calls from collectors, bank managers and other spammers
• registration on various Internet resources where you are asked to enter your data
• participation in various promotions online and offline stores
• posting advertisements on special resources (Avito, Yula), where the number can be easily parsed

These are not all options when you can expose your data and then receive a barrage of calls.

Before or after sale, all bases are checked and cleaned. As a result, each number receives calls from bots, which determine some biometric data by voice or are discarded if there is no answer.

Ready-made databases can be used by both ordinary commercial organizations and scammers.

Spam calls. Is it possible to fight them?

Good day, Habr.

There are several ways to deal with spam calls to your mobile phone, but there are situations when this is almost impossible. I will tell you my case about systematic calls from a hidden number. We are all used to receiving spam SMS/calls once in a while and most often we stop responding to them. Some are used for advertising purposes (legal or illegal), others lead to scams (such as “I’m in trouble, throw money at the number +Х(ХХХ)ХХХ-ХХ-ХХ”), and here everything is simple, I personally add the subscriber to spam , I put a filter on or block it – it doesn’t matter. My operator is MegaFon and it even has a function, something like “report spam”, I don’t remember exactly, and I also used it several times. On average, I receive 5-10 messages and 1-2 calls a week and this doesn’t seem to be critical. This doesn’t particularly interfere with my life, provided that I always turn on airplane mode at night.

Now the point. This situation happened to my wife, but since I solved the problem, I will write on my own behalf.

Part one. Introduction. On the morning of December 5, 2018, I received a call (according to the extract - Moscow). At the other end of the “wire,” a certain M named several names and tried to find out if he got there. Naturally, he ended up in the wrong place. I don’t know whether this needs to be connected with further events. The call was at 9:10. 11 minutes later the first call came from another number (according to the extract - St. Petersburg). And then it started (c)…

Fig.1. Detailing.

The calls began to repeat every 8 minutes. The first thing I noticed was the absence of “7” in the number, but after looking through the entire statement, I saw that non-spam numbers from other regions like 921XXX-XX-XX were popping up. Well? We call MegaFon technical support and tell it like it is, there’s a call at 12:10. But what do they say in technical support? You can activate the “Black List” function and enjoy (for 4 rubles per day, of course), but if the subscriber’s number is not displayed on your phone, you will not be able to block it in this way (...?...). It seemed to me that there was a hint at another “Caller ID” function. But it’s strange, I see the number on the statement...

What's wrong with these calls? The first is periodicity. The crazy guy who sits with a timer didn’t fit into my head, so it’s either auto-dialing on a phone/device with a modem or simply SIP calls (which is much worse). The second is the subscriber’s hidden number, that is, it was hidden intentionally. What’s also strange is that once every 20 calls the number still appeared in the list.

Part two, having written an angry review on the MegaFon website, I began to write to Tele2 technical support, and after googling it became clear that it was them. Along the way, I found several sites where you can add information about potentially spam numbers, and of course, I left information on each one. It was also discovered that I am not the first to receive regular calls every 8 minutes...

Fig.2. Screenshots.

Tele2 sent me almost as technically as MegaFon, but at the same time they said “... yes, I see that this is our subscriber, but we cannot block him...”. I think blocking is impossible not from a technical point of view, but due to a service agreement or something like that. I even googled Article 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on telephone hooliganism, but bad luck:

According to Art. 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, telephone hooliganism is equated to criminal offense only in certain cases:

• if we are talking about telephone terrorism;
• if a person receives telephone threats to his health and life;
• if the caller for the purpose of the prank caused damage or harm.

What do I have? When the subscriber picks up the phone, the call is dropped. When you call this phone number, the phone is picked up and hung up again. You can't even begin to cover the damage here.

Fig.3. Answer to Tele2 (I wrote everything on behalf of my wife). Unfortunately, all that's left is a photo from my phone.

I had to take emergency measures. All subscribers who were not in the phone book were blocked. It has become a little easier to breathe, but this carries with it several negatives at once. First, now I can’t order pizza (the courier will smoke outside the door for a long time). Secondly, since the phone continues to receive calls and reject them, the battery drains, and the number of calls on the icon increases, which infuriates me.

On the morning of the second day I discovered another strange thing. I thought that MegaFon records all calls and they will be visible in the statement in any case, but something went wrong. As soon as a block was placed on unknown incoming calls, calls stopped being included in the statement.

Technical support for MegaFon and Tele2 is no longer available. What to do next? The first thing that came to mind was to write a statement to the police, the second (from my colleague) to make a redirect to MegaFon (Tele2) technical support - let them sort it out (but it seems to me that this is still the same article 213, only in relation to me ). We google similar calls to the police (in the meantime, the phone starts to glitch and continues to drop out). After quickly analyzing similar situations, I realized that it was useless. There are no facts of threats, terrorism or fraud. Well, they call you more often than usual and at night - no one cares... Although this was the last option.

So, what is next? But nothing... The calls stopped by themselves after about two days. There was an idea that they wanted to press the number, or make sure that an important call was missed, but somehow this is ridiculous, the number is not gold, but rather copper, although beautiful, and not letting me eat pizza is arrogance). We don’t have loans, so there’s no need for collectors.

Less spam everyone...

How to minimize the entry of a number into the database

To reduce the likelihood of telephone data getting into databases, try to distribute it as little as possible.

• To register on unimportant resources, try to use rented numbers or just email. The cost of rent is not comparable to the hassle that spammers will cause. For example, the “Online Sim” service asks for 1 ruble per number for one-time registration.
• Delete SMS messages with suspicious links immediately and do not click on them.
• Think carefully before participating in promotions, even if they offer a good discount. Trading companies go to great lengths to get your data and then pester you with various offers. Remember the saying about the cheese in the mousetrap.

How to block someone else's phone number on iPhone

iPhones, like Android phones, support the locking feature. To rid yourself of unwanted calls, you can resort to several methods:

1. The main one, but also the most radical, is to go to settings - phone - mute unknowns and switch the toggle switch to green. After this, only those who are already in the contact list will be able to reach you, and this is the main drawback.
2. An alternative, and also more flexible, is to configure the list of blocked contacts manually. You need to go to the same “phone” menu, and then select all unwanted numbers. Once you confirm your decision in the pop-up window, you will no longer receive messages, calls, emails, or FaceTime calls from them.

Blocking calls on iPhone

REKK is a modern utility for iOS 13 and higher, which has a number of useful options aimed at identifying spam.
The program easily identifies the incoming subscriber by number and then reports who exactly is making the call using a special message on the call screen. Using such functionality, it is not difficult to very quickly navigate the current situation and draw conclusions about whether or not to pick up the phone.

With the help of this blocker, you will forever forget about annoying, time-consuming and energy-consuming calls from collectors, spammers and banks. But this is not the full potential of REKK.

An equally important option of this software is the ability to check a missed call from an unknown mobile phone and obtain important information about its owner. We are talking about the unique “Reverse Lookup” function. As a result, you will be able to make the right decision whether or not you should call back to such a number.

The advantage of REKK is the ability to determine the company owner of an unknown mobile number, its address, category, official website and even email address. In general, the whole package is “turnkey”. When you log in, the name of the company to which this number belongs will be displayed on the screen of your gadget. What is noteworthy: REKK can easily identify a company even when it is registered in the utility’s database of unwanted numbers, which is regularly updated and expanded.

Among the pleasant bonuses of the application is a memorable icon. It definitely won’t get lost among other software on the screen of your gadget.

The functionality of the utility is presented:

• Possibility of quick installation
• Availability of an intuitive interface
• Complete with instructions for blocking and identification inside the utility
• Option to block messages by unwanted mobile numbers and keyword (example: discount, special offer, credit)
• Systematic updates of the mobile number database
• Automatic spam blocking

The high efficiency of blocking spam and fraudulent mobile utilities REKK is ensured by constant updating of the database, as well as high accuracy in determining who exactly an unknown number belongs to. At the same time, the utility has a simple and very convenient interface that is intuitive to use.

Additional advantages include the anonymous basis of the service. In addition, the service does not collect user information. In addition, the application does not have any restrictions on the number of blocked mobile numbers. What is important: if blocked, the subscriber will not receive notifications that he has been blocked.

How to fight phone spam using special applications

Perhaps the most convenient way to get rid of phone spam is to install a special application on your smartphone to block unwanted calls.

There are many similar applications, but not all of them are equally useful. The fact is that the most important part of such an application is the database of unwanted numbers. Therefore, it is important that this database is relevant for Russia and constantly updated. One of the best applications for combating telephone spam on the Russian market is Kaspersky Who Calls.

What Kaspersky Who Calls can do

• Determines which organization owns the number from which the call is coming, and can show its name, as well as the category - for example, “Loans”, “Medical” and so on.
• Notifies whether there have been complaints about spam or fraud from this number.
• Allows you to automatically block calls from unwanted numbers, including fraudulent calls and phone spam.

The main feature of the service is its quickly updated database of numbers. The system analyzes reviews and anonymous statistics about suspicious numbers, for example, the duration and frequency of calls, the presence of the number on the company’s official website and a host of other factors. As a result, the system classifies the phone number when a sufficient number of characteristics are collected.

Thus, as soon as spammers or scammers use a new number for mass calling, it will very quickly end up in the Kaspersky Who Calls database - and all users of the service who receive calls from this number will see it on the screen of their smartphones marked “Spam” or “ Suspicion of fraud."

At the same time, with Kaspersky Who Calls you don’t have to worry about privacy: the application does not use the personal data of its users and their phone books. You can find out who is hiding behind unfamiliar numbers without sharing information about yourself or your contact list.

Three reasons to choose the premium version of Kaspersky Who Calls

The Kaspersky Who Calls application is available in two versions - regular and premium. The regular version is free, and the premium version is available by subscription, which can be purchased for a month or a year directly in the application. Subscribers receive some pretty important benefits.

Firstly, the paid version of Kaspersky Who Calls has no advertising.

Secondly, premium subscribers of Who Calls for Android have access to an offline database of numbers. When receiving a call, the free version of the application contacts the cloud database each time to identify the caller. In the paid version, the database is stored directly in the smartphone’s memory.

Accordingly, identifying unfamiliar numbers in the premium version of Who Calls for Android will always work, even if you are in roaming with the Internet turned off or, for example, in a place with poor cellular network coverage, where calls still work at the very least, and data transfer is already limited. No.

In Who Calls for iOS, the number database is always stored in the smartphone's memory. But if users of the free version need to update the database manually, then in the premium version it is updated automatically. In addition, the paid version of Who Calls for iOS shows the name of the organization during a call (this feature is also available for free in the Android version).

Thirdly, the premium version of Kaspersky Who Calls for both mobile platforms has the ability to block certain categories of spammers. In the free version, you can either completely turn on blocking of all unwanted categories at once, or turn it off completely. In the paid version, you can configure blocking of categories individually.

For example, you can immediately cut off possible scammers, but leave advertising of communication services, independently deciding whether you are currently interested in new offers from operators or not.

Blocking calls using the device

Any smartphone has the “ Block ” or “ Black List ” function in the standard dialer.

If spammers have already called you and the contact is saved in the list of recent calls, you can block it or send it to a black list. Now they will not call you from this number.

Google's Phone app Spam .

Using it, you can also mark an unnecessary call and it will go into the general database. In the future, this contact will be marked as spam by other users and will then be automatically blocked.

But spammers don't stop there. They have a bunch of other numbers in stock and will continue to harass you.

On Android phones (pure system), blocking of numbers occurs in the following order.

1. Go to the standard dialer “Telephone” and select “Settings“.

2. Go to the blocked numbers section
3. Activate the item – “Unknown numbers” (block calls from unknown contacts)
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To block identifiable but unknown numbers, use the Do Not Disturb .

1. Open “Settings” – “Sound” – “Do not disturb“.

2. In chapter "Calls” turn on – “Only from contacts“.

3. Turn on sounds for SMS and instant messengers, if required.

4. If necessary, make changes to the “ All exceptions ” section.
5. Click the “ Enable ” button to launch the “ Do Not Disturb ” feature.

After all the settings, you will not receive calls from those who are not in your phone book. They will be in the Missed section, you will then call back or block the contact.

On other devices everything is configured in the same way.

How do operators block spam calls?

In the fall of 2022, the Russian Ministry of Digital Development spoke about the development of draft amendments to the Law “On Communications” related to telephone spam. The Ministry of Digital Development proposes to oblige cellular operators to transfer complaints about spam received from subscribers to the spam call blocking system, which will be supported by Roskomnadzor.

Until the law is adopted, you will have to be content with the protection services against spam calls and mailings that your operator provides. Moreover, the situation varies quite a lot from one to another. For example, MTS has a paid service for blocking telephone spam - spammers whose numbers are included in the database will not be able to reach subscribers who have connected it. A similar service for blocking unwanted and suspicious calls is included in the free caller ID. Beeline, in turn, offers its subscribers a paid service for identifying unknown numbers, including spam and fraud, but without the ability to automatically block unwanted calls.

Finally, Tele2 offers subscribers two options for combating spam calls. You can configure call filtering yourself using a user-defined incoming call blocking list. Like block lists in the smartphone operating system, this is not very convenient - each new spammer will have to be added to the list manually.

In addition, Tele2 recommends that subscribers use the Kaspersky Who Calls application, and MTS recommends the MTS Who Calls application developed jointly with Kaspersky Lab. And this brings us to the third option for fighting phone spam.

Phone security settings

Almost every stock dialer has “ Caller ID and spam ” settings. Check if they are enabled on your device. This will help get rid of suspicious calls.

Launch the “ Phone ” application. Find the settings for this program (usually three dots in the upper right corner).

Scroll to the “ Caller ID and spam ” section and set the following parameters.

Turn on:

• show subscriber ID and spam
• filter calls

With the functions connected, the application will notify you about unwanted calls and block them.

Call Blocker

The name of this program speaks for itself and is fully confirmed by the built-in functionality. User protection from unwanted calls is implemented by warning about who is currently dialing the owner of the smartphone, as well as by blocking all suspicious calls. When using Call Blocker, it is worth considering that the program does not have a built-in database of numbers, and therefore it can filter incoming calls only when connected to the Internet.

One of the advantages of Call Blocker is the presence of all the necessary options in the free version of the program. That is, no one forces the user who downloaded the application to subscribe for further interaction with the antispam program. However, everyone who installs Call Blocker on their phone is annoyed by the abundance of advertising, the window of which pops up literally after every click in the application.

Using antispam applications

Today, various antispam applications are being used to protect users from unwanted calls. There are many of them, with different functionality. There are paid and free. So the choice is yours. And we will present you some of them.

Yandex with Alice

It has the “ Caller ID ” function. He can:

• warn about spam and scammers
• will determine who called (uses its database, as well as the Campaign Directory database)

Having enabled “ Caller ID ”, you need to set Yandex with Alice as the main assistant in the settings.

These are the new requirements of Google. You will become familiar with this information during the process of connecting the detector.

Don't pick up the phone

The application will help you get rid of unwanted and annoying calls.

If you receive a call from an unknown number, the program will instantly call it through its database, which is updated constantly. An internet connection is not required. It will warn you or block spam depending on the settings in the program.

Install “Don't pick up the phone” from the Play Store.

The program has two levels of protection:

• active protection
• passive protection

It is advisable to test both options to choose the best one for you.

Perhaps the first option will be tougher for you, or the second option, on the contrary, is rather weak.

Black list

Another application for filtering unwanted calls and SMS.

It allows you to manage your created blacklist.

A simple, easy to configure program.

In the “ Blocks ” section, set only those parameters that suit you.

Only exclude:

• hidden numbers
• unknown numbers
• all calls

Similar manipulations in the settings are done for SMS.

Go to installation

Call blocker

The application will protect you in real time from various spam and warn you about unwanted calls.

It identifies each call and provides all available information in the database about this contact.

Install

2 Gis

Many people know and use the 2Gis application. But they don’t know that it helps fight spam.

Connecting 2Gis in the call settings makes it possible to check an incoming call using the 2Gis database and show who is calling.

The database contains all organizations, companies, etc. that were registered in the Yandex Directory.

This feature is available on iOS 10 and higher devices.

⇡#Truecaller

Developer: True Software Scandinavia AB. Supported platforms: Android, iOS. Cost: monthly subscription 69 rubles, annual subscription - 649 rubles; There is a free version with some limitations. Download on Google Play, App Store.

One of the world's largest providers of incoming call subscriber identification services, with a user base of up to 250 million people. In India alone, Truecaller's largest market, 150 million people use the service every month. Judging by the reviews on the RuNet, in our country there are also many admirers of this software solution.

The main emphasis in Truecaller is on the social component and the mutual exchange of detailed information about spam and fraudulent calls by the user community. It is for this reason that after installing the application, you must create an account in the service, confirm your phone number and agree to synchronize data with the Truecaller database. Without completing this procedure, you will not be able to use the program. This is the first annoying moment, there is also a second one - an inconvenient and overloaded interface, stuffed to the gills with advertising banners in the free version of Truecaller, which, among other things, is devoid of many useful functions. Yes, the product fulfills its main task, but only strong-willed users will be able to find an approach to it.

Using the services of mobile operators

Mobile operators, as mentioned above, help users get rid of spam. They provide this service, but not for free. The cost is purely symbolic, but the protection efficiency is high.

If you value your nerves and peace, you should not skimp on “matches”.

Only your provider can most effectively protect you from spammers.

Different operators call this service differently. The cost varies from 1 to several rubles per day.

• MTS provides the service for 1 ruble/day
• Megafon – 1 ruble/day
• Beeline – 1.52 rubles/day
• Tele2 – 1 ruble/day

You can activate the service in your provider’s personal account.

How to block SMS

It’s even easier to limit the sending of SMS to you than it is to limit calls, but is it really so justified? We believe that it is not worth blocking SMS completely, based on the fact that you can easily miss some important message.

If you are tired of incoming spam, then it is better to resort to the services of the applications discussed above - all of them also include the function of blocking unwanted SMS, based on an extensive database and keywords in the message.

The neural network constantly conducts research into what people write to each other, as a result of which it becomes smarter and more experienced - this is perfectly reflected in the ability to save a person from unnecessary messages and mailings.

Resources with contact databases

It happens when you want to find out who called from an unknown number. How and where to get this information?

There are resources on the Internet that collect information bases. Usually. they are replenished by ordinary people.

These databases contain contacts of regular campaigns and numbers used by advertising agencies, banks, stores, debt collectors, scammers, call centers and others.

For example: an unknown person called you, you want to find out about him in as much detail as possible. Open any resource, enter the number, get information. And if a review was left about this contact, it will be available to everyone.

Usually. reviews are left about negative contacts after an unpleasant conversation or if it is a frankly annoying call.

1. Whose number - this site contains a huge database of various cellular and landline operators.
2. Who-calls.rf is a similar resource to the one presented above.

You too can contribute by adding unwanted contact and comments to it.

How to block using standard Android functions?

Blocking a subscriber can be done using the resources, functions and settings of your device - a smartphone or tablet.
But the list and procedure will differ depending on what platform the phone is running on - iOS, Android or some other. The Android mobile platform suggests two ways to carry out such manipulation - using the service for creating a prohibited list or using actions available for recording.

Blocking via contact list

How to add a number to the blacklist on Android? Below is the blocking algorithm using the standard settings of devices on the Android processor.

1. Open the Phone dialer application on your smartphone and use the keys to enter the details of the selected blocked phone that you want to block. Add it to the address book sheet of your smartphone, and now open this list.
2. In the upper right corner of the screen, find an icon in the form of three dots arranged in a vertical line. Tap it, and in the drop-down menu, select the Settings section - tap it.
3. A list of settings for contacts will open. Find and go to Call Blocking.
4. Confirm blocking.

This method is good because it allows you to block the entire list of your unwanted contacts with one click. That is, the easiest way is to create a sheet with all prohibited data, and block them all at once using the algorithm described above.

Otherwise, you should act when you want to block only one phone, a specific subscriber.

1. Using the calling service, enter the number and add it to your contacts list. Now open the phone book application, find the unwanted mobile number of the subscriber and click on it - the basic information page will open.
2. An icon with a vertical line of three dots will appear in the upper right corner - tap it.
3. Tapping will open a list of available actions that you can perform with the record card. This list contains the Block action - select it.
4. The system will ask you to confirm your actions - confirm by clicking on the Block button in the pop-up window.

The described techniques work on new versions of Android. On older versions, the adding process is slightly different.

Adding to the Black List

Adding this list can only be done on outdated Android firmware versions. The process is similar to blocking an individual contact on modern versions. To add to an emergency, follow the algorithm:

1. Add the phone number you want to block to your mobile phone's phone contact list, and then open it. You should see basic information.
2. Click on the menu button. In older versions of the software, the button is located either in the center at the bottom of the screen or in the upper right corner.
3. In the drop-down list of available actions, select adding to an emergency situation.

On some versions and phones of certain brands, for example, Huawei, the blocking option is located right in the main information. That is, when you open a contact, there is a lock key right next to the call key.

Depending on your platform firmware and which call blocking method you have chosen, there are two options:

1. When a person calls you, they will hear “Subscriber unavailable”, or one beep and a message about unavailability, or short beeps (the notification option also depends on your mobile operator).
2. During the call there will be long beeps. That is, you will receive a call, but you will not receive a notification about it (accordingly, you will not be able to answer it, because the excluded subscriber will hear long beeps).

Using third-party programs allows you to somewhat expand the options listed above.

Why you shouldn't talk to spammers

1. They called and hung up. Do not call back calls to unknown contacts yourself. The person calling you may be using a premium number, for which you will have to pay dearly.
2. Did the bank call you? You see the real bank number. But that's not true. Fraudsters know how to change numbers. You start a conversation and hear the manager’s usual speech. Even in the background there is work noise (many people fall for this bait, since everything looks natural). Say that you will call this number back yourself now and see the reaction. They will try to dissuade you from calling back. And all because by calling you will be taken to the bank. There you will hear in response that no one called you from the bank.
3. If you still decide to talk to an unknown caller. Ask him to introduce himself, name the organization, and this organization’s permission to process your personal data. Warn that the conversation is being recorded.

They will hasten to say goodbye to you.

How and where to complain about spam calls

If a spammer calling advertises his services or products without your consent, then he is violating the advertising law. First of all, check your contract with your mobile operator. There may be fine print stating that you agree to receive advertising. This means that spammers are not breaking the law.

Otherwise, turn on the conversation recording. This can be done without warning, if you do not ask the caller for his personal information. But it’s better to give a warning; often after this the calls stop.

You can complain to the Federal Antimonopoly Service. The easiest way for this purpose is to fill out a special form on the State Services website or use the special State Services application for Android and iOS.

In this case, the following data is indicated:

• Own last name, first name, patronymic and place of residence;
• Spammer data, if identified;
• What and how is violated;
• A message about the desire to bring violators to justice;
• Supporting documents: records, printouts of call details.

The period for consideration of a complaint is 1 month, it can be extended for another month. If a case of an administrative offense is initiated, you will receive a corresponding notification.

A complaint about a violation of the law on the protection of personal data should be sent to Roskomnadzor. This can be done at any of its branches or fill out the appropriate form on the website. The review deadlines are the same.

How to act legally

There are not many legal ways to influence ordinary telephone spammers and fight annoying calls.
If in the case of fraud or its attempt, you should immediately contact the police, where they will take quick and effective measures, then with advertisers everything is not so simple. They are well aware of the norms of current legislation, adapting in such a way as not to violate them. Therefore, in this case, it will be much easier to use one of the spam blocking methods mentioned above, especially since they are quite effective and reliable. Spam in email
Spam in social networks

Spam in messengers