Americans get unwanted calls everyday. In addition to being annoying, these calls can also be dangerous and expensive. Blocking spam calls from reaching you can require a multi-pronged approach, including registering for the National Do Not Call registry, blocking known scam numbers, and switching to a phone provider who will block numbers for you.
In this article:
How to Stop Spam Calls On A Landline
There are several approaches to stopping spam calls when you have a landline. These include:
1. Registering your number for the National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry is a government registry of numbers that telemarketers cannot call. While putting your number on the registry will stop sales calls, it does not stop political, charitable, or survey calls. And of course, it doesn’t stop calls from spammers, scammers, or other people not following the law.
You can enroll in the Do Not Call Registry online by calling (888) 382-1222.
2. Robocall Blocking
A robocall blocking feature, like the one available to Community Phone users, blocks unwanted calls by enforcing dial-test for callers. which blocks robo-callers from ringing your phone. When someone dials your phone number, they will first be asked to press “1” to connect. Because many spam callers use robodiallers, which only connect to a human caller once the recipient has picked up the phone, a robocall blocker is an effective way to stop most unwanted calls.
3. Spam Directory Blocking
Spam director blockers, like Nomorobo, block calls from phone numbers in a database of known-spam numbers. These databases must be constantly updated since spammers are always using new numbers, but can be an effective way to decrease unwanted calls.
4. Individual Number Blocking
On landline phones, you can block individual numbers by dialing *60# and the number you wish to block.
5. All Unknown Numbers Blocking
If you really want to ensure that no unknown numbers can reach you through your phone, you can set up a blocker that only allows pre-approved numbers to call your landline. Community Phone’s Complete Scam Blocking feature acts as a safe-list of approved callers. All numbers not on your Allow List will be blocked from calling your phone line.
FAQs
What is the best way to stop spam calls?
The best way to block spam calls is to switch to a provider that blocks them automatically before they reach you. Community Phone offers landline phone service with the option of spam call blocking which blocks unlawful and unwanted calls from reaching your landline. The Robocall Blocking feature allows users to block all robocalls before they reach their phone while the Complete Scam Blocking plan enables users to only allow calls from people on their allow list.
What does * 77 do on a landline?
This code is used to reject any anonymous calls. On your landline, give it a shot. Check to see if your caller ID is turned on. *77 is the number to dial. You should hear three beeps, indicating that calls marked Private, Blocked, or Anonymous will not be answered.
Why am I suddenly getting so many more spam calls?
Spam calls can increase during certain times of year when scammers know people are in the market for certain products. Medicare enrollment is one of these times.