Review Call Filtering in Settings
Apple’s current options can screen, silence, or manage unknown callers depending on your iOS version and region. Open Settings, find Apps and Phone, then review Call Filtering. Apple’s official guide is the source of truth for the current labels and behavior.
Enable your carrier’s protection
Your carrier may label suspected spam or prevent high-risk calls from reaching the phone. Start with its free protection, then check whether it is suppressing legitimate calls.
Block and report individual callers
After an unwanted call, use the information button in Recents to block that caller. This helps with repeat calls from the same number, but spoofing means scammers can quickly switch numbers.
Use voicemail as a safety net
Legitimate unknown callers usually leave context. Review voicemail regularly, and never return a suspicious call using the number the caller provided. Look up the official organization independently.
If a live scam call slips through
Hang up if you are uncertain. If you have already identified a live incoming call as fraudulent, Stall the Scam can speak harmless prerecorded responses from a nearby laptop or spare phone. It does not integrate with the iPhone Phone app or originate calls.
Frequently asked
Questions about spam calls
Does Silence Unknown Callers block the call permanently?
It routes or silences calls according to your current iPhone settings; it does not prove that every unknown caller is spam.
Why do spam calls keep changing numbers?
Caller ID can be spoofed, so blocking one displayed number may not stop the same operation from calling again.
Can Stall the Scam answer my iPhone automatically?
No. You choose the suspicious incoming call, put it on speaker, and start Stall the Scam on another device.