All articles tagged with #spam calls
iOS 26 introduces a new feature called 'Ask Reason for Calling' that intercepts unknown calls and asks callers to identify themselves before ringing, helping users filter spam and legitimate calls more effectively. Users can enable this feature in Settings under Phone options, offering an upgrade over previous silent or direct voicemail options for unknown numbers.
The article provides methods to block spam calls on iPhone, including enabling Silence Unknown Callers in settings and using third-party apps like Truecaller, with upcoming features in iOS 26 to improve call screening.
Apple's upcoming iOS 26 introduces a new call screening feature that helps users block spam calls by asking unknown callers for their reason for calling, which can be enabled in settings. The feature is available on compatible iPhones and can be set to ask callers, silence calls, or allow all calls, with the recommended option being 'Ask Reason for Calling.' Users are advised to test the beta on secondary devices due to potential bugs and battery impact.
To prevent spam calls and texts on Android phones, traditional methods like adding your number to the FTC's "Do Not Call" registry and blocking numbers can help, but they have limitations. Incogni offers a proactive solution by preventing spammers from obtaining your phone number in the first place. By identifying and requesting the removal of your information from data brokers, Incogni aims to protect your privacy and reduce spam calls. Users can enjoy a 55% discount on an annual plan with the code "9to5Google" and benefit from a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Mobile phone users receive an average of 14 spam calls per month, with scammers increasingly pretending to be from streaming services. The problem of phone spam continues to grow, with millions of Americans losing money to scams. Scammers use various tactics, such as posing as insurance providers, Medicare representatives, or loved ones, to trick people into sharing personal information. In addition to voice spam calls, scammers also employ phishing techniques through emails and messages. The report highlights that 77% of fraud attempts are made through SMS text messages, while 23% are sent as MMS messages. To protect yourself, verify account statuses through official channels and report any scams to the FCC.
iPhone Live Voicemail is a new feature in iOS 17 that allows users to see real-time transcriptions of voicemails and pick up calls while the caller is leaving a message. It helps with spam calls by instantly declining them, and users can block unwanted callers. The feature is turned on by default but can be turned off in the settings.
WhatsApp has introduced a new privacy feature called Silence Unknown Callers to reduce spam calls. When activated, calls from unknown numbers will be silenced automatically, but will still be visible in the Recent Calls section. The app has also introduced Privacy Checkup, which allows users to set their privacy and security options, including who can message or call them and who can see their profile information. Other recent updates include the ability to transfer data between Android and iOS, use the same number on multiple devices, and share higher resolution images.
WhatsApp has introduced two new features to enhance privacy and security. The first feature, Silence Unknown Callers, allows users to silence calls from unknown numbers, while the second feature, Privacy Checkup, strengthens the security of messages, calls, and personal information. Additionally, WhatsApp has released a video encouraging users to check in on friends and highlighting key privacy features like chat lock and disappearing mode.
WhatsApp has introduced a new feature to automatically silence calls from unknown numbers, following complaints from customers in India about an increase in spam calls. Users can turn on the option by going to Settings > Privacy > Calls and selecting “Silence unknown caller.” WhatsApp has also added a new privacy checkup feature that will take users through multiple steps to make them aware of different privacy controls. Last month, WhatsApp rolled out back-end updates to reduce spam calls to customers in India, with the company expecting these calls to reduce by 50%.
Avid Telecom, a Voice over Internet Protocol provider, is being sued by nearly every attorney general in the country for allegedly violating consumer protection and telemarketing laws by facilitating more than 7.5 billion calls to numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. The AGs allege that Avid facilitated more than 24.5 billion calls between December 2018 and January 2023, and more than 90% of those calls lasted less than 15 seconds, indicating they were likely robocalls. Avid allegedly ignored warnings about suspected spam calls and sold phone numbers, data, and dialing software that enabled customers to make mass robocalls.
Truecaller is set to launch a caller identification service over WhatsApp and other messaging apps to help users identify potential spam calls over the internet. The feature, currently in beta phase, will be rolled out globally later in May. India, where users receive an average of 17 spam calls per month, is Truecaller's biggest market with 250 million users. The company is in discussions with telecom operators to implement a solution to block telemarketing calls over their networks using artificial intelligence filters.