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		</div><p dir="ltr">You can sharply reduce spam calls and scam texts, but you cannot stop them completely. The FCC says call-blocking tools reduce unwanted calls but cannot eliminate them, because scammers keep changing and faking the numbers they use. The best defense is layers: your phone&#8217;s built-in call screening, your carrier&#8217;s free protection, a Do Not Call registration, and a few habits for handling texts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The scale of the problem explains why. YouMail estimated 52.5 billion robocalls in the United States in 2025, and telemarketing and scam calls made up 29.6 billion of them, or 57%, up from 49% the year before. This guide gives the exact steps for iPhone and Android, plus the carrier tools and the rules to follow when a text looks suspicious.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What the Numbers Say About Scams</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The Federal Trade Commission reported on June 15, 2026 that consumers lost about $16 billion to fraud in 2025. Of that, $3.5 billion came from imposter scams. Bank impersonators ranked at the top, and the FTC said the most costly scams often start with a fake security alert that convinces people to move money.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That pattern is useful to know. A scam call or text rarely asks for money at first. It creates urgency, claims your account is at risk, and pushes you to act before checking. The tools below reduce how often such messages reach you, and the habits below protect you when one gets through.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">iPhone: Screen Calls and Filter Texts</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Screen Unknown Callers in iOS 26</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">ghacks reported on January 12, 2026 that iOS 26 adds call screening. Go to Settings, then Apps, then Phone, and choose Screen Unknown Callers. The options are Never, Ask Reason for Calling, and Silence. Ask Reason for Calling has the phone ask the caller to state why they are calling before your phone rings. Silence sends unknown callers to voicemail without ringing. Some users report that they do not see the option, so make sure your software is fully updated.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Turn On Call Blocking and Identification</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">iTechGuides lists the path as Settings, then Apps, then Phone, then Call Blocking and Identification. This is where you enable your carrier&#8217;s or an installed app&#8217;s spam identification.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Filter Spam and Unknown Texts</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">In the Messages app, iTechGuides describes Filters, then Manage Filtering, where you can turn on Screen Unknown Senders and Filter Spam. To report a single message, swipe left on the conversation and choose Delete and Report Spam. To block a number, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Blocked Contacts.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Android: Caller ID, Call Screen, and Spam Protection</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Google&#8217;s Android help pages describe these steps in the Phone app.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Turn On Caller ID and Spam Filtering</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Open the Phone app, go to the menu, then Settings, and find Caller ID and spam. Turn on See caller ID and spam, and turn on Filter spam calls. The phone then labels suspected spam and can block it.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Use Call Screen</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">In the Phone app, open More, then Settings, then Spam and Call Screen, and choose Call Screen. Call Screen lets Google&#8217;s assistant answer an unknown call and ask the caller what they want, and you see the response before deciding whether to pick up.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Block and Report From Call History</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Open a recent call, choose to block or report it as spam. Reports help improve the labeling for other users.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Protect Your Texts in Google Messages</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">In Google Messages, tap your profile picture, then Messages settings, then Protection and Safety, then Spam protection. Google Messages can also show warnings when a message looks like a scam. Menu names may vary by phone maker and software version.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Use Your Carrier&#8217;s Free Protection</h2>
<p dir="ltr">All three major US carriers offer free tools. The details below come from a BlackCloak knowledge-base page, and prices may have changed.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>T-Mobile Scam Shield</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Scam Shield is free and includes Scam ID, which labels suspected scam calls, and Scam Block, which blocks them. You can turn Scam Block on by dialing #662# or in the T-Life app. It also covers spam text blocking and callback protection. A Premium tier costs $4 per month per line, according to the source.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>AT&;T ActiveArmor</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">ActiveArmor is free and blocks spam and fraud calls and filters spam text messages.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Verizon Call Filter</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Call Filter is free and blocks spam calls. A premium tier adds caller ID and a spam risk meter. The source does not list the premium price.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Open your carrier&#8217;s app or website, switch the free protection on, and check which features need a paid plan.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Register With the Do Not Call List</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The FCC&#8217;s guidance, reported by the Dallas Express on September 22, 2026, points to the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov, which is free. Registration stops legitimate telemarketers from calling, but scammers ignore it, so it only helps against companies that follow the rules. The FTC reported about 2.6 million Do Not Call complaints in fiscal year 2025 and 258 million registered numbers.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">How the Rules Help With Texts</h2>
<p dir="ltr">A Federal Communications Commission rule effective September 3, 2024, described by Somos, requires carriers to block texts from numbers on Do-Not-Originate lists, which cover invalid, unallocated, and unused numbers and numbers whose owners have asked that they not be used for texting. This blocks a category of spoofed texts but not all of them. Scammers still send messages from real numbers.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What to Do With a Suspicious Text</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The FTC&#8217;s guidance on scam texts gives a short set of rules.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Do Not Click Links</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Do not open links or call numbers in an unexpected message.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Contact the Company Using Verified Details</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">If a text claims to come from your bank or a delivery company, find the real phone number or website yourself, using a statement, the back of a card, or the official app.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Report the Message</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM), use your messaging app&#8217;s report feature, and report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr"><strong>Treat Urgency as a Warning</strong></h3>
<p dir="ltr">Messages that say your account is locked, a package cannot be delivered, or a payment failed are designed to rush you. Take a minute and verify before acting.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What to Do on a Suspicious Call</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Do not give out codes, passwords, or account numbers to an unexpected caller. If someone claims to be from your bank, hang up and call the number printed on your card. Do not move money because a caller told you your account is at risk, since the FTC points to this pattern as the most costly type of scam. Let unknown numbers go to voicemail if you can, and block and report the number afterward.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">A Simple Setup Checklist</h2>
<ol dir="ltr">
<li>Update your phone&#8217;s software.</li>
<li>Turn on call screening and spam filtering in the Phone app.</li>
<li>Turn on text filtering in Messages.</li>
<li>Enable your carrier&#8217;s free protection.</li>
<li>Register at donotcall.gov.</li>
<li>Report scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov and forward scam texts to 7726.</li>
</ol>
<h2 dir="ltr">Why Spam Keeps Getting Through</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Scammers use a technique called spoofing, which makes a call appear to come from a different number, including one near your own. That is why the FCC says scammers rotate and fake numbers, and why a blocklist alone cannot keep up. Screening tools work by judging the behavior of a call as well as its number, and they still miss some.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Texts add another challenge. Scam messages often come from real numbers or from email-to-text gateways, and they change wording constantly. The carrier rule on Do-Not-Originate lists catches numbers that cannot be real, but a scammer who uses a working number is not stopped by it.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Protecting Family Members</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Older relatives and children are common targets, so setting up their phones can be worth an afternoon. Turn on the call screening and spam filtering described above, and enable the carrier protection on their line. Talk through the most common scam, which the FTC identifies as an urgent security alert from a bank, and agree on a rule: nobody moves money because of an incoming call or text. If a message claims to come from a bank, they hang up and call the number on the card.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A short list of verified numbers on the fridge or in the phone&#8217;s contacts, such as the bank, the pharmacy, and the doctor, helps people avoid dialing numbers from a message.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">If You Already Clicked or Replied</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Do not panic, and act quickly. If you gave a password, change it at the real site and on any other site where you used it, and turn on two-step login. If you shared a card or bank detail, call the number on the back of the card or the bank&#8217;s official line and ask them to monitor or replace it. If you sent money, contact your bank right away and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Block the number and delete the message after you have saved a screenshot for your report.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Keeping Your Own Number Quiet</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Spam calls often start from numbers that were sold or leaked. Be careful where you enter your phone number. Skip it when a form does not need it, and consider a secondary number for sign-ups and store loyalty programs. Do not reply to texts, even to say stop, unless you recognize the sender, since replies can confirm that a number is active.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Limits of These Tools</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Call screening has trade-offs. Silencing unknown callers can send real calls to voicemail, including doctors, delivery drivers, and job interviews from numbers not in your contacts. After enabling it, check voicemail regularly. Ask Reason for Calling on iOS and Call Screen on Android give callers a chance to explain themselves, which reduces missed legitimate calls.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Spam filters can also misjudge. A legitimate message may land in a spam folder, and a scam message may look normal. Review your filtered messages now and then, and mark mistakes so the filter learns. None of the sources reviewed give accuracy rates for these tools, so this article makes no claim about how well they work, only that they reduce volume.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<h3 dir="ltr">Can I completely stop spam calls?</h3>
<p dir="ltr">No. The FCC says blocking tools reduce unwanted calls but cannot eliminate them, since scammers rotate and spoof numbers.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Does the Do Not Call list stop scam calls?</h3>
<p dir="ltr">It stops legitimate telemarketers who follow the rules. Scammers do not follow them, so use call-screening tools as well.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">How do I screen unknown callers on an iPhone?</h3>
<p dir="ltr">On iOS 26, go to Settings, Apps, Phone, then Screen Unknown Callers and choose Never, Ask Reason for Calling, or Silence. Some users do not see the option yet.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">How do I report a scam text?</h3>
<p dir="ltr">Forward it to 7726 (SPAM), use your messaging app&#8217;s report option, and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Are carrier spam tools free?</h3>
<p dir="ltr">T-Mobile Scam Shield, AT&;T ActiveArmor, and Verizon Call Filter all have free tiers according to the source reviewed. Premium add-ons cost extra.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>References and Sources</strong></h2>
<p dir="ltr">YouMail, &#8220;Robocalls Reach 52.5 Billion in 2025&#8221;: <a href="https://www.youmail.com/blog/robocall-index-2025">https://www.youmail.com/blog/robocall-index-2025</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Federal Trade Commission, &#8220;FTC data shows consumers reported losing $16 billion to fraud in 2025&#8221;: <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/06/ftc-data-consumer-fraud-losses-2025">https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/06/ftc-data-consumer-fraud-losses-2025</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Dallas Express, &#8220;FCC Offers Guidance on Blocking Unwanted Calls and Texts&#8221;: <a href="https://dallasexpress.com/national/fcc-offers-guidance-on-blocking-unwanted-calls-and-texts/">https://dallasexpress.com/national/fcc-offers-guidance-on-blocking-unwanted-calls-and-texts/</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">ghacks, &#8220;iOS 26 Call Screening: How to Silence Unknown Callers&#8221;: <a href="https://www.ghacks.net/2026/01/12/ios-26-call-screening-how-to-silence-unknown-callers/">https://www.ghacks.net/2026/01/12/ios-26-call-screening-how-to-silence-unknown-callers/</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">iTechGuides, &#8220;How to Stop Spam Calls and Texts on iPhone&#8221;: <a href="https://itechguides.com/how-to-stop-spam-calls-and-texts-on-iphone/">https://itechguides.com/how-to-stop-spam-calls-and-texts-on-iphone/</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Android, &#8220;Spam protection&#8221;: <a href="https://www.android.com/safety/spam-protection/">https://www.android.com/safety/spam-protection/</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">BlackCloak, &#8220;Carrier Spam and Scam Blocking Tools&#8221;: <a href="https://blackcloak.io/knowledge-base/carrier-spam-blocking/">https://blackcloak.io/knowledge-base/carrier-spam-blocking/</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Somos, &#8220;FCC Text Blocking Rule Takes Effect&#8221;: <a href="https://somos.com/fcc-text-blocking-rule-takes-effect/">https://somos.com/fcc-text-blocking-rule-takes-effect/</a></p>
<p dir="ltr">Federal Trade Commission, &#8220;How to Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages&#8221;: <a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages">https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-and-report-spam-text-messages</a></p>

How to Stop Phone Spam Calls and Text Scams on Android and iPhone in 2026
How to Stop Phone Spam Calls and Text Scams on Android and iPhone in 2026