Secret Agent Man (or Woman): Keep your phone number hidden all the time with a quick change in its settings. On an iPhone, tap Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID. Toggle it off. On Android, the option is called Hide Number. Don’t be surprised if no one answers, OK?
Block spam texts on your iPhone once and for all
Is your phone full of blocked numbers as a result of spam calls? These types of calls can range from nuisances to dangerous scams.
Being more discrete with your phone number can help reduce the number of unwanted calls. Tap or click here for tips on keeping your number private.
Spam can reach you in other forms, including text messages. While blocking stops calls from specific numbers, there are different ways to stop spam before it reaches your iPhone.
1. Block, filter and report messages on iPhone
The most basic and straightforward method to stop spam texts is to block the number. Here’s how to block a number in Messages:
- Tap the name or number at the top of a Messages conversation.
- Tap info.
- Scroll down and tap Block this Caller.
You can filter messages from unknown senders, turning off iMessage notifications from numbers that aren’t in your contacts. These messages will be sent to the Unknown Senders tab in the Messages list. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings > Messages.
- Turn on Filter Unknown Senders.
If you get a message from an unknown number identified as spam or junk, you can report it to Apple. In the message, tap Report Junk, then Delete and Report Junk.
RELATED: 5 hidden ways Google Voice can make your life easier
2. Carrier tools
Your wireless carrier can help avoid spam messages. Some have advanced caller ID that lets you know when a possible spam text reaches you. Some carriers provide an app with more powerful tools to block unwanted calls and texts.
This phone scam fooled someone out of thousands of dollars
There are many ways for scammers to get their hands on your information and money. Text messages with malicious links are common, and some criminals use QR codes to harvest your data.
Others take a bit of a more hands-on approach, opting to call victims. These scammers can be persuasive, and it can be challenging to determine whether they are legitimate.
This terrifying phone scam uses a trusted phone number to trick you
Spam phone calls have been around for years and come at the most inopportune times, like when you’re sitting down for a family dinner. But they aren’t just annoying telemarketing calls these days. Now we have to worry about scammers trying to rip us off. Tap or click here for ways to silence spam calls without downloading any apps.
That's not the FBI on the phone, but here's how scammers will scare you
There are plenty of scams in the wild that you need to know about. This time of year, holiday scammers are out in full force. Tap or click here for three of the most prominent holiday scams and ways to avoid them.
Those aren’t the only devious schemes to worry about. There’s a new ruse making the rounds where thieves pretend to be calling from the FBI. The thought of getting a call from an FBI agent is frightening enough, but this one adds scare tactics to rip you off.
Think that’s your bank calling? It could be a scam
There shouldn’t be a reason for your bank to call you unless a critical issue needs correcting. Many might be reluctant to pick up the call, and for good reason. Scammers wiggle their way into different communication methods, and you can never be sure if the call is legitimate.
If you pick up your phone and see this number, don't answer
Robocalls and spam phone calls will not disappear anytime soon, and unfortunately, there isn’t much that we can do about it. A recent study found that just under 4 billion Americans received such a call in only May this year.
5 ways to block or hide your number when making calls
Robocalls have been an annoyance for years, and with technology constantly advancing, it’s only going to get worse. And they’re not just interruptions these days. Many are calls from scammers looking to rip you off.
That’s why it’s important to be proactive and stop these calls dead in their tracks. You have several clever ways to keep scams and robocalls at bay. Tap or click here to stop robocalls for good. How are these callers getting ahold of your number in the first place?
Finally silence those dangerous scam calls - for free
Robocalls are obnoxious and seem to always come in right when we’re in the middle of something important like family dinner or a work presentation. But they’re more than just annoying: Many of them pose serious threats.
Block your number when making calls
Before the onslaught of the pandemic, you probably didn’t use your smartphone to make phone calls very much. Now, carriers are reporting surges in calls as we seek more personal connections while following social distancing guidelines.
Block your cellphone number from caller ID with this one trick
People know it is you calling when your caller ID pops up on their phone, but it doesn’t have to be like that. There are two ways to keep your identity secret while making a call: one is permanent; the other is temporary on a call-by-call basis.