Skip to main content

Ring, ring! The film series is back, this time with help to stop unwanted calls to your mobile phone.

Unwanted calls are annoying. They interrupt your day, and many are meant to scam you. But what can you do about these calls? Today’s video gives you some ways to stop unwanted calls on your mobile phone, so take a look.

Illustration of a person receiving a mobile call from an unknown caller

Another great way to fight unwanted calls is to report them to the FTC. Your reports help us take action against scammers and illegal robocallers — just like we did in Operation Call It Quits in June. Through “Operation Call It Quits,” the FTC and its state and federal partners brought 94 actions against illegal robocallers. That’s a lot of phony calls you won’t be getting now.

Have a traditional landline or a phone that makes calls over the internet (VoIP) at home? We have tips on our unwanted calls page for those phones, too. And as long as you’re stopping your own unwanted calls, take the time to share this with your friends and family. That way they, too, can get fewer unwanted calls.

 

Search Terms
cell phone
robocall
Topics
Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
jobe
August 23, 2019
Is there a setup like this for Unwanted emails ??
deepsix80
August 23, 2019
What good do any of these suggestions do when these callers are "spoofing" return addresses? It is all pointless. You have to throw these people in jail and that will stop them. All those involved. IN JAIL.
FTC Staff
August 27, 2019

In reply to by deepsix80

Even if you think the number on your caller ID is fake, report it. The FTC analyzes complaint data and trends to identify illegal callers based on calling patterns. Report unwanted calls to www.FTC.gov/Complaint. The only information you must give is your phone number and the date of the call.

RBeraha
August 23, 2019
It would be useful to have a link to which to send the annoying phone numbers to.
FTC Staff
August 27, 2019

In reply to by RBeraha

Report unwanted calls to www.FTC.gov/Complaint. The only information you must give is your phone number and the date you got the call.

You can also list the number that called, details about the call, and your name and contact information - if you want to.

Pixie Dust
August 23, 2019
I love how people are finally getting together to work with the FTC. This is just too big for even God knows how many departments you have. I think, you even confuse yourself. LOL I am a fraud advocate & been invited by another site to be a WB. I'm so sick of all these dang scammers. The only thing is, they, so far, are too stupid, to get me. One thought, he had me, but once I knew he was trying to scam me, I told him I needed a date, would he take me. He became speechless. The problems, for me, are from family & companies, I have no choice, but to deal with. A real nightmare!! So many people are doing reverse phone numbers & reporting them. I am very happy to share & get the word out there.
ATaylor
August 23, 2019
Any advice as far as which of the call-blocking apps are safe?
FTC Staff
August 27, 2019

In reply to by ATaylor

Go to the online app store for your phone’s operating system (iOS, Android, etc.) and look at ratings for different apps.

Look online for expert reviews on call-blocking apps.

Look at the list of call-blocking apps for mobile phones at ctia.org, a website for the U.S. wireless communications industry. The site lists apps specific to Android, BlackBerry, iOS (Apple), or Windows devices.

Get links to company-specific information about blocking calls from the the FCC’s Call Blocking Resources.

MaddinCheyenne
August 23, 2019
I am job hunting and find that the day after an internet search on Indeed, ZipRecruiter the robo calls increase 10 fold. These job sites are a hinderance and just prove how un-ethical they are.
TracyeP
October 17, 2019

In reply to by MaddinCheyenne

I figured out that same thing. I have to find a job, so I have to put up with this. But it is so wrong for these sites to be preying on the people in need! I just don't answer the phone. If they want to talk to me, they will leave a message & call back #.
Emil vallecillo
August 27, 2019
It’s about time, I get at least 20 robo Calls a day
973951323
August 23, 2019
I or one would like these robo calls to stop this been going on for quite some time I report these calls every week and it's still coming. What can I do to stop them?
esatoman
August 24, 2019
I am getting numerous calls with only 5 digits! When I call that back I get "number cannot be reached" Very annoying!
Eyes wide open
October 09, 2019
94 actions taken in June and no doubt millions of dollars in fines collected for violations committed against consumers. We registered our numbers, gave up the right to privacy along with our personal data that we served up on a silver platter for protection. The calls and harassment didn’t stop, didn’t falter, on the contrary the calls increased with each passing week. Weeks turned into years, and sales calls now dubbed Robo, alien and sci-fi connotations that leaves us all secretly wondering , just what is lurking , on the other end of endless ringing .
Debbie
January 27, 2020
I got a call from a robocall saying that my SS number was linked to criminal activity. & It would connect me to a officer I hung up & desired to investigate and this is the number it came from it was 1 800 947 76083
diana_banish
January 07, 2021
Go to your settings and look down the list for the word phone and click on there and make sure silence unwanted calls is turned on that’s a good start
Return to top