NICEVILLE, Fla. — Robocalls remain among the most common complaints among phone users, leaving many frustrated by constant interruptions and unsure how to stop them. In this week’s It’s Geek to Me, tech columnist Jeff Werner explains why robocalls are so persistent and outlines practical steps consumers can take to reduce them.
Question:
Paul D. from Shalimar, Florida, writes:
Why do I get so many robocalls? What is the most effective way to handle them?
Answer:
Jeff Werner responds:
So, your phone feels more like a personal vibrating massager in your pocket than a communication tool, eh? Well, you aren’t alone. In fact, you’re part of a massive, unintentional club. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reports that unwanted calls—especially illegal and spoofed robocalls—are the top consumer complaint they receive.
But why is this happening now more than ever, and what can you actually do about it? Well, asking your favorite technology columnist for advice is a great first step. So, let’s dive in, my dear Geeks!
Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room: Why you? The short answer is that it isn’t personal—it’s just efficient. Modern scammers use computerized auto dialers to blast out millions of pre-recorded messages at virtually zero cost.
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If they get even one person out of ten thousand to bite, the campaign pays for itself.
There are a few key reasons why your specific number has likely become a frequent target. Chief among these are data breaches and information brokers. Your phone number has probably been leaked more than once in a data breach or sold by a data broker. Once your number is proven to be “live,” meaning it’s active with a real person on that end, it becomes a commodity and is traded on the dark web.
Next is simple exposure, mostly on social media. If you’ve ever listed your phone number on a public social media profile, scammers have likely scraped it and added it to their list.
Finally, arguably the most frustrating one, the “Active Number” trap. Have you ever gotten one of those calls in which you answer and the party on the other end immediately hangs up without saying anything? That’s likely this trap in action.
If you answer a robocall—even just to say “hello” or “stop calling me”—you confirm that your number is active and monitored by a human. As mentioned above, this makes your number much more valuable to scammers. Once it makes its way onto the “Active Number” list, you will start to get calls even more frequently.
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So, how do we take back our peace and quiet? While it’s nearly impossible to stop every single spam call, you can reduce the noise by using a combination of built-in tools and best practices.
The single most effective way to handle a suspected robocall is not answer it. If you don’t recognize the number, let it go to voicemail. If it’s actually important, like your doctor’s office or a legitimate business, they will leave a message, and you can call them back in only a few minutes.
Some modern smartphones even allow you to watch and read a transcript as a voicemail message is decoded, letting you decide whether to answer. A scammer, on the other hand, will almost always hang up when they reach voicemail because their goal is live interaction.
Modern smartphones also have excellent tools buried in their settings. On an iPhone, go to Settings > Phone and turn on Silence Unknown Callers. This sends any number not in your contacts or recent outgoing calls straight to voicemail.
On Android devices, open the Phone app, tap the three dots, then go to Settings > Spam and Call Screen. Enable “Filter spam calls” and suspected scam calls won’t even ring your phone.
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On Google Pixel phones, the Call Screen feature allows Google’s Assistant to answer the call and ask why the person is calling. You can watch a live transcript until the scammer realizes they’re talking to a robot and hangs up.
Most major carriers also offer free or low-cost tools that label or block scam calls. AT&T offers ActiveArmor, T-Mobile offers Scam Shield, and Verizon offers Call Filter. These are only a few examples, and your carrier can provide details on what’s available.
Beyond that, third-party apps such as Nomorobo, RoboKiller, or Hiya use large databases of known scam numbers to intercept calls. Some even deploy “answer bots” designed to waste scammers’ time.
Final word: don’t be baited into playing the scammers’ games. If you accidentally pick up, do not press any buttons—even if the recording says “Press 1 to be removed from our list.” That’s just another trick to confirm your number is active.
Also be wary of “neighbor spoofing,” where calls appear to come from local area codes to make them seem legitimate. Finally, make sure you’re registered on the National Do Not Call Registry. While it won’t stop offshore scammers who ignore the law, it can significantly reduce calls from legitimate companies.
To view additional content, comment on articles, or submit a question, visit my website at ItsGeekToMe.co (not .com!)
Jeff Werner, a software engineer based in Niceville, Florida, has been writing his popular “It’s Geek to Me” tech column since 2007. He shares his expertise to help readers solve everyday tech challenges.
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