Spam calls have gotten ridiculous lately. I swear my phone rings more from robocalls than actual humans. After one too many “your car’s extended warranty” calls (I don’t even own a car), I finally started looking into how to stop spam calls for real.

While researching solutions, I noticed that NordVPN recently introduced a spam call prevention feature for Android. I was already familiar with the service from work, so I tried it for personal use. Besides the usual VPN privacy features, it now also checks incoming numbers against known scam databases and shows a warning if a call might be suspicious. It’s a nice additional feature to the overall VPN experience, especially since VPN services seem to keep adding more and more extra tools these days - you can see how different ones stack up in the comparison table here

Sharing a few other things that helped reduce unwanted calls in case it helps someone else too.

1. Register on the Do Not Call list

If you haven’t already, put your number on your country’s Do Not Call registry. In the US you can do it through the FTC. It won’t stop scammers completely, but it does reduce legitimate telemarketing calls.

2. Don’t answer unknown numbers

I’ve started letting unfamiliar numbers go straight to voicemail. If it’s important, they’ll leave a message. Most robocalls hang up after a few seconds anyway.

3. Use a spam call blocker

This is honestly the biggest thing. Many carriers have built-in spam filters, and there are dedicated spam call blocker apps that automatically identify known scam numbers.

4. Block numbers directly on your phone

If the same number keeps calling, just block it directly from your call log.

For anyone wondering how to block spam calls on Samsung or other Android devices:

• Open your recent calls
• Tap the number
• Select Block / Report spam

5. Never give personal info over the phone

If someone asks for banking info, passwords, or ID numbers - hang up. Legit companies don’t request sensitive info like that out of the blue.

6. Report spam calls

In the US you can report them to the FTC or FCC. It takes a minute and helps regulators track scam networks.

7. Help family members set up protection

This is a big one. Scammers disproportionately target older people. If your parents or relatives aren’t tech-savvy, help them set up call filters or a call protection tool. It can prevent a lot of headaches.

Anyway, that’s my quick rundown after falling down the “how to block all spam calls” rabbit hole this week. If anyone has other tips on how to stop unwanted calls on a cell phone, I’m all ears - because at this point I’m one robocall away from throwing my phone into the Hudson.