Along with all the technological advances we benefit from, there are also some frustrating drawbacks. One of the biggest frustrations for our office, and for me personally, has been the nonstop spam calls we receive on both our cell phones and office landlines. Lately, the spam texts have been just as relentless.

Here are the steps we have taken so far, along with a few additional options worth trying.

Start With the Do Not Call Registry

One of the first steps we took was registering our office numbers with the National Do Not Call Registry. It is a free federal service designed to reduce unwanted telemarketing calls.

Keep in mind that the change is not immediate. It can take up to 30 days before you notice a difference.

We have seen a small reduction in spam calls since registering, but they have not disappeared completely. While the registry can help reduce legitimate telemarketing calls, scammers may ignore it altogether.

Report Unwanted Calls

If unwanted calls continue after your number has been added to the Do Not Call Registry, you can report them through the registry.

Reporting these unwanted calls may not stop them immediately, but the information can help identify patterns and support efforts to combat illegal calls.

Remember, if a call appears suspicious, do not follow their instructions. Do not feel obligated to call back simply because a recording tells you to. Hang up instead.

Turn On Call Blocking

Most phone providers now offer some type of spam warning, call labeling, or blocking feature. If your phone regularly shows “Spam Risk” or “Scam Likely,” check with your carrier to see what additional filtering options are available.

I also tried a paid service called Cloaked on my cell phone. At the time, it cost me about $100 for the year, and I noticed a major reduction in unwanted calls almost immediately. For me, that alone was worth the cost. However, it is not recommended to use this service and your provider call block protection at the same time. 

There are many call-blocking apps available, both free and paid, so review the features, ratings, and privacy policies before choosing one. Always ask if they can be used in conjunction with your cellphone carrier’s spam block service. 

Block and Report Spam Texts

Spam texts have been the harder problem for me personally. 

The Federal Trade Commission recommends using your phone’s “report junk” feature or forwarding unwanted texts to 7726, which spells SPAM.

Avoid clicking links or replying to unexpected messages. If a text claims to come from a company you know, contact the company using a phone number or website you trust rather than the information in the text.

Scammers use fear tactics and urgency to trick their victims into giving away information… or their actual money. Always ask questions and verify sources before you react. 

When in doubt, just hang up. 

What Has Worked So Far

I certainly do not have all the answers when it comes to spam calls and texts. These steps have helped reduce some of the noise, but there is still room for improvement.

If you have found a solution that works, please let me know. I will gladly share the advice with our newsletter community so we can all benefit from it.