Unwanted phone calls, particularly robocalls and scams, have reached epidemic levels, prompting numerous complaints to consumer groups and the FCC. Affected individuals report receiving multiple spam calls daily, often despite measures taken to reduce them. While some robocalls are legitimate under U.S. law, others are illegal without prior consent. Both Apple and Android smartphones offer features to silence unknown callers, managing the influx of unsolicited communication. However, users are cautioned about potentially missing important calls when implementing these settings.
The calls are a nuisance to many ordinary people, some of whom have complained to the Associated Press. "I need help on getting spam calls to stop," one reader said in an email.
A robocall purely to deliver a message or collect a debt is allowed under U.S. regulations, but the Federal Trade Commission says robocalls with a recorded voice trying to sell you something are illegal unless you've given explicit written permission.
Many robocalls are also probably scams, the FTC warns. If you're flooded by unsolicited calls, here are some ways to fight back.
Smartphone users can turn on some built-in settings to combat unknown calls. Apple advises iPhone users to turn on the Silence Unknown Callers feature.
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