With the development of smartphone technologies, people are now able to more easily communicate with their loved ones. However, not all calls are genuine. Scammers use fake phone numbers to manipulate individuals into revealing personal information or money. These scammers are constantly improving their tactics and can potentially take advantage of those who are not cautious. And if you’re not careful, they could make big bucks off you. Aside from hanging up, there’s something else you can do to avoid becoming a victim and to keep up with your smartphone security and privacy.
Due to the high number of robocalls and phone scams that occur daily, it is generally not safe to answer calls from unfamiliar phone numbers. However, scammers have found ways to pique our interest or concern, leading us to answer or return calls from unknown numbers despite our initial mistrust. Therefore, it is important to be cautious when receiving calls from numbers we do not recognize.
Common Types of Scam Calls
Generally speaking, two types of scam calls are often used.
The one-ring scam
The one-ring scam relies on our natural curiosity to be successful. It works by having the phone ring multiple times before being answered, and if it is answered, the caller immediately hangs up. If the recipient calls back, they may hear a recorded message. However, the scam also includes expensive international fees that can cost up to $20 in the first minute, which the criminal collects a portion of before moving on to their next victim using automated dialing systems that can make millions of calls daily.
Ring and run
The scammer will try to create a sense of urgency in order to trick the victim. The scammer, pretending to be from an agency or organization, will quickly tell the victim about a time-sensitive emergency and then hang up or ask the victim to call back. The goal is to get the victim to call a premium-rate phone number or to give the scammer money or personal information, such as bank account or credit card numbers. The grandparent scam is a variation of this scam, with the caller pretending to be a grandchild in need of bail money or other assistance. The key to these scams is the sense of urgency the scammer tries to create in the victim.
See Also: Top 10 Area Codes You Should Never Answer or Call Back
How to Block an Area Code on iPhone (iOS 12+)?
- Step 1. Tap Settings at the bottom of the screen.
- Step 2. Tap Block/Allow List.
- Step 3. Tap the Allow tab.
- Step 4. Tap Add to Allow list and enter the range or number you wish to block moving forward.
- Step 5. Tap “Allow”.
There is another way to do this was through an iPhone app called Number Shield. You can block a range of numbers starting with any sequence, such as an area code. There’s a 50 million limit to the total amount of phone numbers you can block, which means you can block 5 area codes. The app works really well. You can choose to have a phone number with an area code for a different state from where I live. Spammers usually spoof a number with your area code, or a nearby area code, so that way you can block all the area codes the spammers try to use and still get all the calls I want. The blocked calls go straight to voice mail, so you won’t miss anything important.
How to Block an Area Code on Android
- 1. Download any mobile phone manager software and open the software.
- 2. After entering, open the security protection, find the harassment blocker, and click to enter.
- 3. After turning on the harassment blocking function, click the setting icon in the upper right corner to enter the setting interface of the mobile phone.
- 4. On the setting interface, find the blacklist and click to enter.
- 5. After turning on the blacklist function, click Add, then select Add by Region, and enter the province or area code.
RealCall, the Best App to Block Spam Calls
RealCall is a global app that blocks spam calls and displays caller ID. Accurate RealCall boasts top-notch blocking accuracy thanks to its vast and ever-evolving database and AI-based modeling.
This is also an app that constantly detects spam calls, updates the blocking list in real-time, and filters unwanted calls and messages before they reach you. The functions of RealCall can be listed as follows:
- Auto Block Over 99% of Unwanted Calls
- Accurate Detection and Smart Blocking of SMS Fraud
- Meet Answer Bots to Fool Telemarketers, Scammers, etc.
- Custom Block Calls in Categories
- Know Who’s Calling You, Based on Our Powerful DataBase
It can leave robocalls, scam calls, telemarketer calls, neighbor scam calls and other scam calls nowhere to hide. No matter what type of spam you receive, RealCall is always there for you and handles it for you. What’s more, thanks to a real-time updated database and custom blocking rules, you’ll never miss any more calls from schools, hospitals, and more.
If you are tired of texts designed to steal your money and personal information. RealCall helps stay ahead of spammers before answering unknown calls with advanced blocking technology. In addition, RealCall constantly escalates its blocking rules based on our real-time collection of trending spam texts, neighbor spoofing texts, scam texts, hoax texts, telemarketer texts, and other unwanted text messages.
Answer bots are a set of pre-recorded audio messages designed to counter any calls identified as spam based on a bot answering service. Make phone scammers think they’re talking to a real person to waste their time as much as possible. Funny responses to phone scammers are also available for you to share with your friends.
RealCall provides a more precise interception experience based on your actual needs. You can customize your own blocking rules based on call types, such as calls other than contacts, VoIP calls, anonymous calls, international calls, area codes, and more. Block unwanted calls and control which calls get through to you!
Every user of RealCall contributes as an extra layer of safety and increases the shield against scammers while enjoying protection and peace. RealCall’s AI becomes wiser and more accurate for everyone after being trained by spammers’ calling patterns and possible movements.