How to stop spam phone calls

Is there a way to stop spam phone calls besides blocking, then "block and report junk"?

iPhone Air

Posted on Nov 10, 2026 10:07 AM

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9 replies

Nov 10, 2026 10:23 AM in response to mailcom

The most effective way I have found is to use the Call Screening option called "Ask Reason for Call". Spam callers are not giving their name and reason for call, so that means the phone will not ring and important callers, such as a doctor's office, would be giving their name and reason for call, so you would not miss those. A caller who does not give their name or reason for call will also not be allowed to leave a voicemail.

Screen Calls


The numbers will still be available to you in the Unknown Callers list, but do not clog of your recent call log. The numbers in the Unknown Caller list can be bulk deleted very easily at any time if you wish.



Nov 10, 2026 10:15 AM in response to mailcom

"Blocking" is a complete and total waste of time if you are asking about "junk" calls.


Why? Spammers use special software to disguise the actual number that is calling. You see another made up number on your iPhone......not the actual real number that is calling.


Sure, you can block the made up number, but that won't stop the real number....which is disguised....from continuing to call you.


Nothing that you can do about this, unfortunately.

Nov 10, 2026 11:50 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Kurt Lang wrote:
Don't know why, but that option didn't work for me at all. It wasn't until I enabled Xfinity's spam filter that the junk calls fell to nearly zero after a few weeks of it training on what was junk and what wasn't.
"Ask Reason to Call" did nothing. The phone would still ring, and the spammers could still leave voicemail messages.

Do you have Live Voicemail enabled? See what happens if you turn that off.

How to stop spam phone calls

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