Spam calls to mobile phones are a popular type of intrusive advertising used by many organizations and companies. Information distributed through spam mailings and calls has no practical value. The following recommendations will help you protect yourself from useless offers and minimize the risk of theft of confidential data.
What it is
Previously, only computer owners could talk about spam.
Spam is the sending of advertisements, various information or some other data to devices (previously mainly to email, and now to telephone).
Newsletters can come through SMS messages, social networks, push notifications, registered accounts.
Do not confuse spam with subscriptions that you signed up for yourself, and with SMS advertising that you once agreed to.
In such cases, it is no longer spam, although it is likely that you have forgotten when and where you left your phone number.
Spammers (the so-called people who send spam) illegally take over databases with email addresses and mobile phone numbers, after which it is easy for them to send out mailings.
Unfortunately, the information sent in such letters and alerts is of no interest, or, even worse, may be a “lure” from scammers.
There are also special programs for sending spam. As a result, mailing is carried out much faster and reaches a much larger volume of recipients.
How companies access phone numbers
Obtaining phone numbers for scammers is not particularly difficult. You can purchase a database of phone numbers not only on the darknet, but also on message boards like Avito. Many people make the job of attackers easier by providing personal information when applying for a cashback or discount card, as well as by posting their numbers publicly on social networks and on various websites. Often, users themselves subscribe to advertising mailings, agreeing to the terms of the contract after inattentive reading.
Why is it dangerous?
Despite the fact that spam has a low cost of sending spam, its excessive use can be dangerous both for the users to whom spam is sent and for its sender. Due to numerous blockings and negative user reviews, the rating of the site sending the newsletter may “fall” to a minimum, or even negative.
Accordingly, site traffic will drop sharply, or even be reduced to zero. Many people who don’t know about the KPI indicator: what it is and how to calculate it, simply produce spam mailings, without even thinking about how much it could cost them.
For users, spam is also not a good thing. But, despite the many negative aspects of spam, it is used not only less often, but even more often. According to scientists, more than 80 percent of email messages are spam.
How to protect yourself and loved ones from spam
The first piece of advice is your attentiveness; don’t be too lazy to read the user agreement when registering on the next site, applying for a discount card or cashback. If a call has already been received and you are sure that it is a scam or an advertisement, feel free to block the number and blacklist it.
Blocking the number
If you have advertising or scam numbers, open your phone book or call list.
- In the call list, hold your finger on the desired number.
- In the drop-down list, select “Block number” or “add to blacklist”.
- If there is no such function, save the number and open the “Phone Book”.
- In the book, select “Block subscriber”.
Checking the number
If you are not sure and doubt whether the call came from a bank employee or from a fraudster, there are telephone directories on the Internet where you can call the number. Dangerous numbers quickly end up on such lists and collect reviews from visitors to suspicious numbers. Select a site from the list below, enter the desired number and read the information:
- Who-calling.rf.
- Cheinomer.ru.
- Ktozvonit.org.
Leave your feedback on unknown numbers - this way you will expand your base and help other people who received a call or SMS from an unknown number.
Anti-spam applications
There are a lot of applications for Android and iOS devices with built-in caller ID and blocking of unwanted calls. Be careful, some of the applications may also ask for your mobile number. Here you should choose a proven application or read reviews.
The Russian company Yandex has developed its own caller IDs. Information is pulled from Yandex.Directory based on user reviews and the directory database. You can download Yandex with Alice in the Play Market.
For iPhone users, the 2GIS directory of organizations is suitable, which can also determine numbers. To enable the feature:
- Open “Settings”.
- Go to the “Phone” application
- Find “Call blocking and identification”.
- Turn on 2GIS.
Mobile operators
Most mobile operators offer their own packages for subscribers to combat spam. These options are in most cases paid, but they do their job well. The cost of the “Black List” is approximately as follows:
- MTS – 1.5 rubles per day, blocking SMS messages is free;
- Megafon - about one ruble per day.
- For Tele2 operator – 1.1 ruble.
- For Beeline subscribers – 1.01 rubles per day.
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.
Ways to disable calendar spam on iPad or iPhone
If you receive spam, then to disable the mailing you need to go to the settings section of the calendar synchronized with your Google account. You must use the official website of the service. You can open it both from a mobile phone and from a PC. In order to remove spam and deactivate the mailing list, you will need to perform the following steps:
- Open your browser and go to the official Google Calendar website (google.com/calendar/about).
- Activate the PC version, since you cannot remove notifications using the mobile version.
- Click on the gear icon (located in the upper right corner) and select “Settings”.
- Find the “General” line in the side menu, and then go to the “Events” section.
- Find the "Automatically add invitations" option. To get rid of constant reminders, you need to select “No”. After this, all users will be prohibited from sending notifications about upcoming events, and they will no longer appear on the smartphone’s desktop.
- In the “Automatically add events from Gmail...” column, uncheck the box and save the changes.
If all the above steps were performed correctly, spam in the calendar on an iPhone or iPad synchronized with Gmail will be disabled. There is an alternative option for deactivating the newsletter. To do this, you need to go to the settings section of your iOS device, find the line “Offering places” in the “Calendar” and move the slider to the inactive position. Then you need to disable the “Events from programs” option. It is recommended to block access to the calendar for third-party applications in the “Privacy” section, as well as disable profiles that have not been synchronized with Gmail or iCloud.
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.
- Go to the standard dialer “Telephone” and select “Settings“.
- Go to the blocked numbers section
- Activate the item – “Unknown numbers” (block calls from unknown contacts)
To block identifiable but unknown numbers, use the Do Not Disturb .
- Open “Settings” – “Sound” – “Do not disturb“.
- In chapter "Calls” turn on – “Only from contacts“.
- Turn on sounds for SMS and instant messengers, if required.
- If necessary, make changes to the “ All exceptions ” section.
- 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.
Advertising Push Notifications
Such spam has nothing in common with SMS, however, it is displayed on the smartphone screen at any time, and the receipt of a notification is usually accompanied by a sound signal. The reason is the display of Push notifications from various sites and applications installed on the phone. Such messages may contain annoying advertising information.
To turn off annoying notifications from applications, follow the instructions:
- Open the settings section.
- Select the Applications tab.
- Find the program that is sending you unnecessary notifications.
- Go to the "Application Notifications" section.
- Uncheck the box next to “Enable notifications.”
- Save your changes.
To disable notifications from sites, you need to go to your mobile browser settings. Here are the instructions using Google Chrome as an example.
- Go to your browser settings (three vertical dots on the main screen).
- Select the section “Site Settings” - “Notifications”.
- Review the list of sites that allow browser notifications and disable unnecessary services. You can also turn off all notifications.
This way you can get rid of notifications without deleting the app or using complicated methods. The main thing to remember is that sometimes useful information can come along with advertising messages. Before completely disabling Push Notifications, be sure to check that the program you choose only sends unnecessary ads.
Let's sum it up
I hope you understand what a spam call to a mobile phone is and what ways to protect yourself. Mailing technologies are improving and anyone can be at risk. We arm ourselves with common sense, install programs for blocking, and help our relatives with advice. Do not ignore user agreements on websites. Forewarned is forearmed, it is better to read once again what you are agreeing to, so that you know in the future where your contacts will end up. Write in the comments whether the article was useful, maybe you need tips to combat advertising, spam or notifications.
What is email spam
Spam in email is most often encountered by those who have many accounts on different social networks. networks or on other sites is tied specifically to the email box. Moreover, it does not matter which search engine this box belongs to.
If you regularly receive letters containing spam from the same address, to stop this, you can put the newsletter in your email as spam and then no more letters will come from this account.
What is spam on WhatsApp
WhatsApp spam is also a very common type of spam on social networks. The same people, who are hired specifically for mailing, register on WhatsApp and send it to a ready-made, parsed database of accounts.
The advantage for spam on WhatsApp is that, unlike VKontakte, there are no prohibitions on sending messages with website promotion services for Yandex or offering some kind of product.
A little history
It is not for nothing that the term “spam” has come to be used to describe unwanted messages, dubious calls from unfamiliar numbers and intrusive advertising. This word first appeared in the 40s of the last century, and was originally the name of canned meat included in the daily diet of soldiers. After the war, large stocks of this product remained in warehouses and, so that it did not spoil, it was necessary to urgently sell it before the expiration date. Canned food began to be advertised everywhere: in newspapers, transport, entrances to residential buildings and just on the streets. The advertising was deliberately made aggressive, imposing on people the need to purchase the product.
When this kind of advertising began to appear on the Internet, people began to remember this event. It was the impetus for the mass mailing of intrusive advertising to be called “spam.”
How to talk to spammers
Ask the caller to introduce himself and name the bank or other organization he represents. After that, whether this company has permission to process your personal data. Not all interlocutors are ready for dialogue with a legally savvy client. They will prefer to quickly end the conversation and, if you are lucky, remove your number from their contact database.
You can complain to Roskomnadzor about advertising calls that arrive at your personal number after 20:00. Or, at least, threaten the calling representative of the bank or other organization with this. You can also mention the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) in the conversation and refer to Article 14.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation “Violation of advertising legislation,” which provides for an administrative fine of up to 500 thousand rubles.
By the way, the FAS recently brought charges against a number of banks for sending spam: Alfa Bank, Home Credit, Raiffeisenbank and Citibank.
In the case of telephone calls, you can arm yourself with a voice recorder or one of the mobile applications that automatically record conversations. And also inform the caller that you are recording the conversation.
Why you shouldn't talk to spammers
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Complaint to Rostelecom
If annoying advertisers used not only your phone number, but also your full name, called you by name, knew your address, etc., without your permission, this is already a violation of the law on the use of personal data. In such a situation, a telephone conversation on your part should look the same as I already described above.
As for the official complaint, it should be sent to Roskomnadzor. This can be done at any of the organization’s branches, or you can fill out an application online using the following link.
The application must contain all the same information as in the case of an application to the FAS. Roskomnadzor will also consider the application within 1-2 months, and as a result of its consideration you will receive an official response.
If the conclusion is taken in your favor, the organization behind the spam may be fined 15-75 thousand rubles, and the officials responsible for it - 10-20 thousand rubles.
Intrusive SMS messages
Perhaps a little better than phone calls, since there is no need to communicate with sellers of anything over the phone. However, even spam messages can cause real anger.
Example of SMS spam:
Often you can disable all incoming SMS from unknown numbers. For example, on the same Huawei/Honor smartphones, this can be done in the “Interception Rules” subsection.
