We all know those annoying phone calls that interrupt our day, trying to sell us things we don’t want or trick us into giving away our money. Well, these calls aren’t just a local problem; they’re a global one. In 2022, there were a whopping 85 billion spam calls worldwide, up from 78.2 billion the year before. The United States got hit the hardest, with the average person getting almost 48 spam calls in a year. But it’s not just America – countries like India, Brazil, and Mexico also face this spam call onslaught. Lately, there’s been a rise in international spam calls, especially from places like Ghana, Nigeria, and India. These tricky calls often pretend to be local or legit numbers, aiming to steal your personal info or money.
But fortunately, you may easily block international calls on your cell phone. In this article, you will learn about three options for resolving this problem.
How to Block International Calls on iPhone
If they are beneficial, international inbound calls may provide you with some opportunities. However, if these calls are bogus, they will cause harm by stealing your iPhone data or threatening you. It’s a great moment to be an iPhone user. Because the iPhone has various features that allow you to prevent these calls. So, to avoid spammers, keep an eye out for these approaches to learn how to switch off international calls on iPhone.
See Also: How to Check if a Number is a Scam
Method 1. Turn on Silence Unknown Caller
- To begin, go into your iPhone’s settings. Open the “Settings” app, which has a gear-like icon.
- After that, find the “Phone” app by scrolling down your iPhone screen.
- By tapping the phone icon, you’ll be sent to the “Phone” app.
- You must locate the area under “Call Silence and Blocked Contacts.” Scroll down in the “Phone app” area to discover the “Call Silence and Blocked Contacts” section.
- Then, close the “Settings” app and enable the “Silence Unknown Caller” option. It will make the procedure possible.
Method 2. Only Allow the Contacts
In addition to Method 1, you can also learn how to use Method 2 to block international calls by following these simple steps:
- To begin, open your iPhone’s “Settings” app.
- The “Do Not Disturb” option can be found by scrolling down the screen. It should be tapped.
- Then turn on the “Do Not Disturb” feature.
- After that, go to your iPhone’s settings and select “Allow Calls From.”
- Then, under the “Allow Calls From” column, select “All Contacts.”
This procedure will prevent any incoming international and other calls that are not in your iPhone’s “Contacts” list. If you’re seeking a way to block unknown calls on your iPhone, this approach will be helpful.
Method 3. Block individual callers
Here’s how to get started:
- On your iPhone, open the Phone app.
- Tap Recents at the bottom of the page.
- Then, next to the unknown phone number, tap the Information icon, which looks like an I within a circle.
- On the following screen, scroll down to Block This Caller.
- Finally, press the Block Contact button.
How to Block International Calls on Android
On Android, go to Call Settings > Auto reject list > Create to prevent unsolicited international calls.
You can make a list of numbers that are automatically denied from here. You don’t have to enter a full number; instead, only enter the country’s dialing code. If you live in the United States and don’t wish to receive calls from Canada, add +1 to the list, and any numbers that start with +1 will be banned.
How to Block International Calls on Landline
Most, if not all, carriers offer their customers the ability to track unsolicited calls. This is largely owing to the FCC’s changes to the rules around what constitutes auto-dialing. The good news is that your carrier will almost certainly cooperate with you to eliminate these unnecessary overseas calls.
For example, Verizon‘s network automatically blocks calls from phone numbers that are either invalid or on a DNO (Do Not Originate) list. These are phone numbers that shouldn’t be making calls, to begin with. These calls are dropped in the middle of the network and never make it to your device. Calls that are blocked are not routed to voicemail.
If you’re an eligible AT&T customer, hopefully, you can use the AT&T Call Protect app to block some unwanted or international calls. It has all of the following characteristics:
- Assists you in gaining more control over obnoxious phone calls.
- Detect and block calls from people who are likely to be scammers.
- Aids in the detection of telemarketers and other possible spam calls.
- Allows you to create a personal blocklist of nuisance callers.
Block International Calls with a Third-party Call Blocker App
Hopefully, you’ve realized that there’s no reason to keep getting unwanted calls. Regardless of the type of device you hold, these are some simple and effective alternatives for blocking numbers on your phone. If you’re on a landline, contacting your carrier to inquire about call blocking alternatives is a good method to solve your problem, and it’s probably your only option. For most mobile users, any of a variety of excellent call-blocking apps is the first, last, and best line of protection.
RealCall is a useful third-party app that stops spam calls and displays caller ID. Thanks to its massive and ever-evolving database and AI-based modeling, RealCall offers top-notch blocking accuracy. Every RealCall user adds an extra layer of protection and strengthens the shield against scammers, all while enjoying security and peace. After being trained by spammers’ calling patterns and possible moves, RealCall’s AI improves and becomes more accurate for everyone.
Never Answer or Call Back International Calls From These Area Codes
- 242: Bahamas
- 441: Bermuda
- 784: St. Vincent and Grenadines
- 246: Barbados
- 473: Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique
- 809, 829, and 849: Dominican Republic
- 264: Anguilla
- 649: Turks and Caicos
- 868: Trinidad and Tobago
- 268: Antigua
- 664: Montserrat
- 876: Jamaica
- 284: British Virgin Islands
- 721: Sint Maarten
- 758: St. Lucia
- 869: St. Kitts and Nevis
- 345: Cayman Islands
- 767: Dominica
These area codes are within the country code “+1”, similar to the local USA area codes, but they are actually international area codes. If you get calls from these area codes, don’t pick them up and answer back. If you call back, you may be charged high international calling fees or be a victim of the “one-ring” cell phone scam.
Related: Top 10 Area Codes You Should Never Answer or Call Back