Why spam calls are getting worse

Unwanted calls increased 15.6% in 2025 compared to the year before, hitting 29.6 billion total — the highest volume in four years, according to YouMail, a robocall-tracking company whose data the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) cites directly. AI-generated voices have made the problem harder to detect: voice cloning now lets scammers sound like a real person, and nearly half of Americans say they couldn’t tell the difference.

Most calls come from autodialers — software that dials thousands of numbers simultaneously, plays a recorded message, and moves on. Scammers get your number from data brokers, leaked databases, and forms you filled out years ago.

How to stop spam calls: start with your carrier

Every major carrier offers free spam filtering. Most people have never activated it. These tools work at the network level — they screen calls before your phone even rings, which is why they outperform blocking numbers one by one after the fact.

AT&T — ActiveArmor

The free version automatically blocks suspected fraud calls and sends spam to voicemail. ActiveArmor Plus ($3.99/month) adds reverse number lookup and identity monitoring.

Verizon — Call Filter

Call Filter Plus ($2.99/month) adds a spam risk score on the incoming call screen and a personal block list that syncs across your devices.

T-Mobile — Scam Shield

T-Mobile blocks flagged calls at the network level — your phone never rings. For “Scam Likely” calls that still get through, tap the number in Recents and select Block & Report Spam.

Smaller carriers (Mint, Boost, Cricket, Metro)

Log in to your account online or in the carrier’s app and look for a Call Blocking, Spam Filter, or Security section. Most of these carriers run on T-Mobile or AT&T’s network and have access to the same underlying blocking infrastructure, sometimes under a different name.

Turn on your phone’s built-in spam filter

Carrier filtering and device filtering work independently — carrier tools stop calls before they ring, device filtering catches whatever slips through. Run both.

iPhone — Silence Unknown Callers

Any number not in your contacts, not in your recent outgoing calls, and not found in your Mail or Messages gets silenced and sent to voicemail automatically. This is aggressive — you’ll miss some legitimate first-time callers — but if you’re getting 10+ spam calls a day, it’s worth it. Check voicemail regularly.

Android — Caller ID and Spam Protection

On Samsung: Phone app → three-dot menu → Settings → Spam and Call Screen. Enable Check incoming numbers and Call-screen service.

Landline — Star codes

Best apps to stop spam calls (free and paid)

If carrier tools and device settings aren’t enough, a third-party app adds a third filtering layer. These apps maintain databases of known spam numbers updated in real time by millions of user reports.

Start with YouMail’s free tier. The “disconnected number” playback alone cuts repeat calls because robocall software automatically removes numbers that appear disconnected from its list.

What the Do Not Call Registry does (and doesn’t do)

The National Do Not Call Registry, run by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), tells legitimate telemarketers not to call your number. Registration is free at donotcall.gov — enter up to three numbers, confirm your email, done. Takes 31 days to take effect.

The problem: scammers don’t check the registry. They’re already breaking the law. The FCC shut down roughly 1,400 phone companies in August 2025 accused of carrying illegal robocall traffic — but new ones keep appearing. Use the registry as one layer, not your only defense.

If you get a robocall without giving written permission, it’s illegal. Report at donotcall.gov (no financial loss) or ReportFraud.ftc.gov (if you lost money). Reports feed enforcement databases that lead to fines and shutdowns.

How to stop spam calls for good: what works and what doesn’t