Advice on dealing with SPAM calls

[WoozyPolarBear]

Hello, I am receiving spam phone calls about once every 5 minutes. So far today, I have received 141 spam phone calls.  This is actually happening to my Telus line, not my Public Mobile line, but I figured that the advice would be transferable. 

Every spam call I get has the same first 3 digits as my phone number (722). I know this is a popular trick the spam callers use to make the number look somewhat familiar. Is there anything I can do to block these calls on a Samsung Note 20? Even if I have to download some sort of app that only allows my contacts to call me and blocks everyone else? Some sort of whitelist only calling app. These spam calls have also filled up my voicemail to capacity.

Someone told me to go into my phone settings and add (780-722-****) to my blocked numbers list, meaning that any number that started with 780-722 would be blocked. I tried this, and it worked...however 2 of my contacts also have 780-722 as the start of their phone numbers (one of them being my girlfriend), so I can't use that trick to block the numbers. Any advice would really help. Thanks.

[Nezgar]

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@WoozyPolarBear wrote:

I would also like to know if it's better to:

A) Answer the call and immediately hang up without saying anything.

B) Just let the call go to voicemail as unanswered. 

Which scenario would be best for dealing with these SPAM calls?

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As per my last post I think it's best to NOT answer (it shows as answered in the spammers robodialer software whether you answer, or your voicemail)

Set your blocked & declined conditional call forward to a dead-end with *67*0000000000#

Then blocked or declined callers will get a call failure instead of a ring and then you answering or your voicemail answering. This might help mark your number in their robocaller databases as not in service...

(You can undo this at any time by dialing ##67# or ##004# to revert all conditional call forwarding back to the default public mobile voicemail number)

[WoozyPolarBear]

I would also like to know if it's better to:

A) Answer the call and immediately hang up without saying anything.

B) Just let the call go to voicemail as unanswered. 

Which scenario would be best for dealing with these SPAM calls?

[Nezgar]

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@computergeek541 wrote:

Unfortunately, adding numbers to your blocked lis will not prevent someone from leaving voicemail messages. Also, not all phone software allows users to use wildcards for number blocking. 

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This is true, but I found that blocked calls fall under the "Busy" conditional call forward category, so you can indeed ensure "blocked" calls do not make it you your voicemail by programming it with a dead-end number, such as:

*67*0000000000# Caller will hear something to the effect of "Sorry you call did not go through" (voip.ms) or "Your call cannot be completed at this time" (SaskTel)

The idea here being the robodialers may blacklist your number due to the "not in service" response, and you get the added bonus of not having to go and delete their voicemails. This also works for calls you manually "decline" when you can see it's an obvious junk call, such as a call from another 4-digits in your same AreaCode/Prefix...

Or you can set that number to my Lenny # as mentioned by @HALIMACS 😁

[HALIMACS]

Yeah, that sounds like a drag, @WoozyPolarBear 

I edited my earlier post to add this option for you... it's from a resident tech expert, nezgar, it's a classic read and sounds like a great tactic (albeit, it won't likely reduce the volume of calls)

Lenny - the Telemarketers worst nightmare! - Community (publicmobile.ca)

[WoozyPolarBear]

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@HALIMACS wrote:

@WoozyPolarBear 

I would set a "Do Not Disturb" such that only selected favorited contacts ring through.

I NEVER answer any calls from numbers and names I don't recognize.

The ones who don't leave messages aren't worth my time, whether it was a spam caller or not.

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This is what I am doing so far, but it's not the solution I want to settle on. DND doesn't notify me when I get an email message or app notification. Also, all these SPAM calls ARE leaving blank voicemails. I know these are SPAM calls, but I just can't handle the volume.

[HALIMACS]

@WoozyPolarBear 

I would set a "Do Not Disturb" such that only selected favorited contacts ring through.

I NEVER answer any calls from numbers and names I don't recognize.

The ones who don't leave messages aren't worth my time, whether it was a spam caller or not.

Oh... there's also this:

Lenny - the Telemarketers worst nightmare! - Community (publicmobile.ca)

[WoozyPolarBear]

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@LurganIeUk wrote:

1. Have the best complete contacts list in your phone...family, friends,enemies, acquaintances, business, exes....etc. 

2. Any caller with no name....be suspect....decide to answer. 

3. Check your settings. Can you set up to not answer calls if not in your contacts. 

4. Do lots of blocking. 

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Could someone tell me how to setup a Samsung Note 20 to only answer calls on my contact list?

[LurganIeUk]

1. Have the best complete contacts list in your phone...family, friends,enemies, acquaintances, business, exes....etc. 

2. Any caller with no name....be suspect....decide to answer. 

3. Check your settings. Can you set up to not answer calls if not in your contacts. 

4. Do lots of blocking. 

5. Do NOT consider changing your number. 

[WoozyPolarBear]

The wildcard method does work on my phone...but like I said, using the wildcard blocked number (780-722-****) impacts 2 of my contacts, including my girlfriend...so I can't use that trick. I'm just wondering what apps are out there that would solve this issue...besides biting the bullet and changing my number. This spam calling thing started yesterday and has been going on every 5 minutes for the past 2 days.

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@computergeek541 wrote:

@WoozyPolarBear 

Unfortunately, adding numbers to your blocked lis will not prevent someone from leaving voicemail messages. Also, not all phone software allows users to use wildcards for number blocking. 

Some phones do have an option to block any phone number if the number isn't already saved on the phone. Also, some third party apps can be installed to that have the option to answer the call quickly and hang up so that voice messgaes cannot be left.

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[softech]

not suggest you to use this way to block the whole set of number..

Spammers these days are smart to use the same area code and your first 3 digits and make up the rest of the rest of the 4 digits to make you believe it's a call form a valid number. there is no way to block them..

best is to just ignore. dun pickup..

if you are really annoyed, you might want to change a new number.. but you never know who used the same number before (assuming you are getting a "recycled" number)

[computergeek541]

@WoozyPolarBear 

Unfortunately, adding numbers to your blocked lis will not prevent someone from leaving voicemail messages. Also, not all phone software allows users to use wildcards for number blocking. 

Some phones do have an option to block any phone number if the number isn't already saved on the phone. Also, some third party apps can be installed to that have the option to answer the call quickly and hang up so that voice messgaes cannot be left.