Free Guide to Reducing Unwanted Calls

Understanding the Problem of Unwanted Calls

Unwanted calls have become one of the most common complaints reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In 2023, the FTC received over 3.7 million reports related to unwanted calls and text messages. These calls range from telemarketing pitches to scams targeting personal information and money. The average American receives approximately 3.7 unwanted calls per week, according to FTC data.

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Unwanted calls come from several different sources. Telemarketing calls try to sell products or services. Robocalls use automated systems to dial numbers and deliver pre-recorded messages. Scam calls impersonate government agencies, banks, or tech companies to trick people into sharing sensitive information. Debt collection calls pursue unpaid bills, sometimes illegally. Survey calls ask questions for research purposes. Political and charitable calls solicit votes or donations.

The impact of unwanted calls extends beyond annoyance. These calls waste time, disrupt daily activities, and cause stress. Scam calls result in significant financial losses—victims lost over $8.6 billion to phone scams in 2022. Older adults are particularly vulnerable, with those over 60 reporting higher rates of phone fraud. Unwanted calls can also lead to compromised personal information, damaged credit, and identity theft when victims share details like Social Security numbers or financial account information.

Understanding the landscape of unwanted calls helps you recognize when a call is likely unwanted. This educational guide covers practical steps you can take to reduce these calls without paying for premium services.

Practical Takeaway: Keep a record of unwanted calls you receive—note the date, time, phone number, and caller name if provided. This information helps you identify patterns and may be useful if you need to report systematic harassment.

How the National Do Not Call Registry Works

The National Do Not Call Registry is a free government service managed by the Federal Trade Commission. It was established in 2003 to reduce unwanted telemarketing calls. Registering your phone number on this list tells telemarketers that you do not want to receive unsolicited sales calls. Over 290 million phone numbers have been registered since the registry began.

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Registering is straightforward. You can register your phone number online at donotcall.gov, or you can call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register. The registration takes effect after 31 days, though many companies stop calling sooner. Your registration lasts indefinitely—you only need to register once, and you do not need to renew it. The registry maintains records of your registration, and telemarketers are required to check it regularly.

The Do Not Call Registry applies to most commercial telemarketing calls. However, certain calls are exempt from this rule. Political organizations, charities, surveys, and calls from companies you have done business with in the past 18 months may still contact you. Debt collectors and banks may also call regardless of registration status. Government agencies are not restricted by the registry either. If you have called a business or given them your number, they may continue calling you unless you specifically ask them to stop.

Violations of the Do Not Call Registry are taken seriously. The FTC and state attorneys general investigate complaints and can pursue enforcement actions. Companies that violate the registry face fines up to $43,792 per violation as of 2024. Despite these penalties, violations still occur, which is why additional steps beyond registration can be helpful.

Practical Takeaway: Register your primary phone number at donotcall.gov today if you have not already done so. If you have a mobile phone and a landline, register both separately. Keep your confirmation for your records.

Blocking and Filtering Calls on Your Phone

Modern smartphones offer built-in tools to filter and block unwanted calls. These tools range from simple blocking features to advanced spam detection systems. Taking advantage of these features significantly reduces the number of unwanted calls you see and hear.

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On iPhone devices running iOS 13 or later, you can enable "Filter Unknown Callers" in the Phone settings. This sends calls from unknown numbers to voicemail while still showing them in the Recents list. You can also block specific numbers by opening the call log, tapping the information icon next to a number, scrolling down, and selecting "Block this Caller." You can block individual contacts or entire numbers. Calls from blocked numbers go directly to voicemail without notifying your phone.

Android phones offer similar capabilities through the Phone app. In the Recents tab, long-press a number you want to block and select "Block/report spam." Some Android versions allow you to filter calls automatically. Google's built-in Call Screen feature can automatically answer suspected spam calls and transcribe them. Samsung phones include Call Blocking settings where you can block numbers directly or create block lists based on patterns like calls from unknown numbers.

Third-party apps provide additional filtering options. Applications like TrueCaller, RoboKiller, and Nomorobo use databases of known spam numbers to identify and block calls before they reach you. Many of these apps offer information about incoming calls, showing whether a number is flagged as spam by other users. Some charge fees, but many offer basic blocking at no cost. RoboKiller, for example, offers a free version that blocks many common robocalls. Whoscall provides free caller identification for most calls.

Your mobile carrier also offers filtering services. AT&T Call Protect, Verizon Call Filter, and T-Mobile Scam Shield are carrier-native services that some plans include at no additional cost. These services use carrier networks to identify and block calls before they reach your phone. Contact your carrier to determine what filtering services are included with your plan.

Practical Takeaway: Enable the built-in call filtering feature on your phone today. Then choose one free third-party app and install it to add another layer of protection. Test the system by having a trusted friend call you from an unknown number to verify the blocking works as expected.

Reporting Unwanted Calls and Protecting Your Information

Reporting unwanted calls helps federal agencies and state authorities track patterns and take action against repeat offenders. When you report calls, you contribute to enforcement efforts that may stop bad actors from contacting thousands of people.

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The Federal Trade Commission accepts complaints through its online complaint form at reportfraud.ftc.gov. You can report telemarketing violations, robocalls, and scams through this single portal. The FTC shares complaint data with law enforcement agencies and uses it to identify trends. Provide as much information as you have: the date and time of the call, the phone number, the name of the caller or company, what they said, and any actions you took. If you were a victim of fraud, reporting is especially important because it becomes part of the official record.

For robocalls specifically, the FTC created a Robocall Report tool specifically designed to track these calls. You can also report robocalls to your state attorney general's office, which maintains records of complaints from your state. These reports help state officials take local action.

When you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from a government agency, a bank, or a company you know, never give information over the phone. Legitimate organizations do not ask for Social Security numbers, account numbers, or passwords by phone. If you are uncertain whether a caller is legitimate, hang up and call the official number listed on your bank statement, the government agency's website, or the company's official documentation. This protects you from giving information to imposters.

If a caller threatens you, uses abusive language, or calls repeatedly after you ask them to stop, document each call and report it. Many states have laws against harassment and threatening calls. Keep records of the dates, times, and content of calls. This documentation supports a complaint to law enforcement if needed.

Practical Takeaway: Create a simple document on your phone where you can quickly note the date, time, and number of unwanted calls. After you receive three calls from the same number or company, file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov using your records.

What Not to Do When Receiving Unwanted Calls

How you respond to unwanted calls significantly affects how many future calls you receive. Certain actions, while they may feel natural, actually increase the problem. Understanding what to avoid helps you reduce unwanted contact over time.

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