Receiving telemarketing calls — or outright spam calls — has become a common problem for millions of people. At certain times, several may arrive in a single day, often from unknown or seemingly ordinary numbers, making it difficult to decide whether to answer. There are, however, a few fairly effective ways to reduce the problem, including signing up for Italy’s Public Register of Objections, adjusting phone settings, or relying on dedicated apps.
- How to Block Spam Calls (or at Least Reduce Them)
- Blocking Spam Calls on iPhone
- Blocking Spam Calls on Android
- Apps That Block Spam Calls
Blocking Spam Calls Has Become a Necessity
Most unwanted calls are generated by automated software used by marketing firms and scammers. These systems dial numbers en masse and simultaneously, often playing prerecorded messages. The costs are low, and even a very small response rate can make the practice profitable.
Answering these calls can also be counterproductive. Once a number is picked up, it may be flagged as “active” and therefore more valuable, increasing the likelihood of being contacted again.
Only Port-In
5G Max speed 2 Gbps
5G Portin 599
150GB in 5G Data
€5.99 /30 Days
How to Block Spam Calls (or at Least Reduce Them)
In Italy, the primary tool for opting out of telemarketing is the Public Register of Objections (Registro pubblico delle opposizioni, or RPO). It is a free public service that allows people to exclude their landline or mobile phone number — as well as their postal address listed in public directories — from being used for advertising and market research purposes.
Registering also revokes any marketing consents given in the past, with a few exceptions: permissions granted after registration remain valid, as do those involving companies with which the user has an ongoing contract, such as phone or utility providers. Telemarketing operators are legally required to consult the register at least once a month and before launching any new campaign.
Beyond the register, other useful strategies include:
- using phone settings to block unknown callers;
- activating anti-spam services offered by mobile carriers;
- installing apps that filter and flag unwanted calls;
- in more extreme cases, changing one’s phone number or using a virtual number for online registrations.
How the Public Register of Objections Works
Signing up for the RPO can be done in several ways: through an online form, by email, or by phone. A toll-free number is available for landlines, while mobile users can call a dedicated number. Registrations can also be renewed, partially revoked, or canceled altogether.
The service applies both to individuals — including businesses, organizations, and associations that hold a phone contract — and to marketing operators, who must register in order to check their contact lists before placing calls or sending printed advertising.
The register does not eliminate spam calls entirely, especially those that are illegal or originate abroad, but it remains one of the most effective tools for significantly reducing unwanted telemarketing.
Blocking Spam Calls on iPhone
iPhones include several built-in tools to reduce unwanted calls, block specific numbers, and better manage calls from unknown contacts. Some features simply silence calls, while others filter them automatically or help identify the caller before the phone even rings.
Identifying Callers on iPhone
An iPhone can display additional information about incoming calls using data from Apple Business Connect, supported carriers, and any installed call-identification apps.
To enable these options, users can go to Settings, open Phone, and access the section dedicated to call blocking and identification. From there, it is possible to choose whether to display the names of calling businesses or rely on specialized apps to recognize suspicious or previously reported numbers.
Filtering or Silencing Unknown Numbers on iPhone
One of the most useful features is Call Screening. When enabled, calls from unknown numbers can be answered automatically without interrupting the user. The caller is asked to state their name and the reason for calling; only then does the phone notify the user, who can decide whether to answer.
Alternatively, users can choose a more aggressive option: silencing all calls from unknown numbers, sending them directly to voicemail while still recording them in the call log. These settings can be adjusted at any time, allowing users to disable screening, request caller information, or automatically silence unknown calls.
Separating Unknown and Spam Calls on iPhone
iOS also allows calls to be organized into separate lists. When the relevant options are enabled, calls from unknown numbers are removed from the main recent-calls list and placed in a dedicated section. The same applies to calls flagged by carriers as potential spam or fraud, which are silenced and archived under “Spam.”
If a call is mistakenly filtered, users can manually mark the number as “known,” preventing it from being screened in the future. Numbers can likewise be removed from the trusted list at any time.
Blocking Specific Numbers and Contacts on iPhone
When unwanted calls repeatedly come from the same number, manual blocking is often the simplest solution. From the Phone app, users can select a contact or number and block it, preventing future calls, messages, or FaceTime requests.
Blocked contacts are always accessible from the phone’s settings and can be unblocked with just a few taps.
Where to Find Filtered Calls on iPhone
Even when silenced or blocked, calls do not disappear entirely. In the Phone app, users can view separate lists for unknown numbers and spam calls using the filter in the recent-calls screen, making it possible to check whether anything important was missed.
Blocking Spam Calls on Android
On Android devices with Google services, an integrated feature helps identify callers and flag potential spam calls. Known as Caller ID and Spam Protection, it displays the names of people or businesses not saved in contacts and warns about potentially unwanted calls.
To work, the service requires sharing limited call information with Google. When a call involves a number not in the user’s contacts, that number is temporarily shared to determine whether it belongs to a business or has already been reported as spam. Numbers stored in personal contacts are not shared.
Turning Caller ID and Spam Filtering On or Off on Android
The feature is enabled by default but can be adjusted at any time. Users can open the Phone app, go to Settings, and select Caller ID and Spam to choose whether to display caller information and activate automatic spam filtering.
When filtering is enabled, suspected spam calls do not ring and are sent directly to voicemail. Notifications are suppressed, but calls remain visible in the call history and voicemails can still be listened to.
On some devices, such as recent Google Pixel models, these tools are part of a more advanced Call Screen system that automatically manages spam without additional configuration.
Having the Caller Announced Aloud on Android
Android also offers a feature that announces the caller’s name or number out loud, which can be especially useful when wearing headphones or when the phone is out of reach. The option is found in the Phone app’s settings and can be set to always announce, announce only with headphones, or remain off.
Reporting and Blocking Spam Calls on Android
If an unwanted call does get through, users can report it manually. From the recent-calls screen, holding down on a suspicious number allows it to be blocked or reported as spam. This both blocks the number locally and helps improve detection for other users.
Errors can also be corrected: if a number is mistakenly identified as a business or spam, feedback can be sent directly through the app. Shared information does not include personal data and is used solely to improve accuracy.
What If You Don’t Use Google’s Phone App?
Not all Android phones use Google’s Phone app. Some manufacturers, such as Samsung and Huawei, rely on proprietary solutions. While features vary slightly, most include some form of spam blocking in the settings of the default phone app.
On recent Huawei devices, for example, the absence of Google services means relying on built-in filters or third-party apps. In all cases, the goal remains the same: identify suspicious numbers, reduce interruptions, and limit spam calls as much as possible.
Apps That Block Spam Calls
Beyond the tools built into Android and iOS, several third-party apps offer more advanced protection. Among the best known are Truecaller, Hiya, and RoboKiller, which rely on large databases of reported spam numbers, continuously updated through user reports and machine learning.
When a call comes in, the number is checked against these databases and may be flagged on screen or blocked automatically. Some apps also include call screening, voicemail filtering, AI-powered assistants, or detailed caller profiles.
How They Work on iPhone and Android
On iPhone, these apps must be enabled manually in Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification to integrate with the system Phone app.
On Android, integration is often deeper. During setup, the app may request to become the default phone app or ask for extended permissions — a necessary step to fully filter incoming calls.
It is worth noting that on “stock” Android devices — such as Pixel phones — Google’s Phone app already provides many of these features without the need for additional apps.
The Most Widely Used Apps
Among the most popular apps is Truecaller, available on both Android and iOS. On Android it can automatically block spam calls, while on iPhone it is limited to identifying suspicious numbers. Its database is built on a very large user community, but using the app requires including one’s own number in its public listings. Paid versions remove ads and add advanced features.
Other common alternatives include:
- Should I Answer, which relies on direct user ratings and provides detailed warnings about incoming calls;
- Tellows, which assigns each number a reliability score and allows selective blocking of those deemed most problematic.
These apps do not eliminate spam calls entirely — especially illegal or international ones — but they can significantly reduce daily interruptions, particularly for people who receive frequent telemarketing calls.