Spam or unwanted calls have been ruining mobile phone peace for years, with aggressive offers, tedious surveys, and more or less sophisticated scams. The good news is that today there are adjustments, services, and habits that drastically reduce these interruptions. and, in many cases, they make them stop ringing.
In this article we gather, in detail, the measures that work best in Spain according to what Android and iPhone already offer, the recommendations of bodies such as the National Police, the advice of specialists and what the current regulations say. In addition to blocking, you will learn how to prevent, report and protect your data. so that the phone is yours again and not the spammers'.
What are spam calls and why do they keep happening?
When we talk about telephone spam, we are referring to commercial or fraudulent communications that you receive without having requested them. These can be cold calling, endless surveys, automated messages, or outright scam attemptsSometimes the number appears with international prefixes, other times as hidden, and occasionally they simulate regular national lines.
Cybersecurity experts warn of a particularly annoying phenomenon: phantom calls from automatic dialing systems. They are robots that call many numbers at once and leave you on hold until an agent becomes available.If no one is available, they simply hang up, leaving that feeling of a missed call without explanation.
The risk is not just the inconvenience. Many calls are actually scams designed to steal personal or banking information.They might activate paid services or obtain enough information to impersonate you. There are even scams circulating that try to get you to say "yes" so they can record it and use it as supposed consent.
What does the law in Spain say about spam calls?
The General Telecommunications Law, reformed in 2022 and fully in force since 2023, included the ban on unsolicited commercial calls. Article 66 prohibits sales calls without your prior consent.However, there are exceptions when you have already given permission at some point or maintain a certain relationship with the company.
In practice, bullying has not disappeared. Many companies hide behind consents given without full awareness or in previous relationships to continue calling, and of course, criminals ignore the rule. Hence the importance of combining blocking mechanisms with exercising rights and filing complaints when appropriate.
Built-in Android settings: identifier, filter, and block
If you use the Google Phone app (It comes standard on many mobile phones and can be installed on others), you have a powerful filter at hand. Activate Caller ID and Spam to see who's calling and if it's suspicious., and complements with Verified Calls so that certain companies can identify themselves by name and reason.
The key function is to filter spam calls. When activated, the application automatically rejects what it detects as spam. And it notifies you without your phone ringing. It's an effective way to avoid being interrupted by commercial junk mail.
- Open Google Phone and go to Settings
- Access Caller ID and Spam
- Activate View caller ID and spam filters and Filter spam calls
- Optional: Enable Verified Calls
It's important to know that, in order to identify and warn against spam, The system sends Google minimal data on unsaved numbers you interact with.It's the privacy price you pay for more accurate filtering, and you can decide if it's worth it for you.
It blocks on the fly and helps improve the filter
No system is infallible: an unwanted call may slip through. When it happens, open the call log, tap the call, and choose Mark as spamThis way you block that number and, in addition, your report helps to make the filter more accurate.
- On your phone, go to Recent.
- Touch the problematic call
- Select Mark as spam and confirm
Keep in mind that spammers frequently rotate their numbering, so You'll block several numbers until you regain your composure.Even so, the combination of filtering and reporting is working better and better.
Blocking hidden and unknown numbers on Android
If you're being harassed by calls from blocked numbers, you can also stop them. In the phone app settings, go to Blocked numbers and enable Unknown numbers. to silence any unidentified number. See how to identify a hidden number If you have any doubts about a registration.
- Open Google Phone
- Go to Settings
- Go to Blocked Numbers
- Activate Unknowns
Important warning: this filter does not distinguish; It will also block legitimate calls with hidden numbers.Only use it if you can accept that risk or if you normally only receive calls from saved contacts.
Does your mobile phone not use Google Phone?
Some brands integrate their own calling app. Many include features to block numbers or even entire prefixesAnd in software layers like Huawei's, you can allow calls only from a closed list.
If you can't find a good native filter, Download the Google Phone app from the Play Store And use its identification and blocking options. And if you still receive a flood of messages, consider an additional specialized tool.
iPhone: Automatically mute people you don't know
From iOS 13 and later you can enable Mute Unknown Callers in Settings > Phone. Any number that is not in your contacts, recent calls, or that Siri does not recognize from emails or messages will be sent to voicemail. without ringing the mobile phone.
After activating it, you will see those calls in the recent calls list. It's a very effective way to save yourself from interruptions.However, this means you could miss important calls from unsaved numbers, such as an interview or pending business.
Third-party applications: Truecaller, Hiya, Call Control
If you need more aggressive filtering, there are apps with large collaborative databases. Truecaller It is the best known and features automatic identification and blocking; there are also alternatives such as Hiya or Call Control, with a similar approach.
These tools draw on reports from millions of users and, in their premium versions, incorporate advanced features. Its effectiveness is proven, but it values ​​the trade-off between protection and privacy.since many require contact permissions and intensive data usage.
Robinson List: Sign up to reduce advertising
In Spain there is a free advertising opt-out list that you can register on. By registering on the Robinson List You indicate which channels you do not want to receive advertising through. (telephone, SMS, email or postal mail) providing basic information such as name, email and ID.
The regulations require companies to consult these lists before launching marketing campaigns without consent. The effect is not immediate: it can take between 2 and 3 months to become noticeable.but it usually reduces the volume of calls significantly.
Important: If you previously granted permission to a company, He will still be able to call you until you revoke your consent.The Robinson List service itself can help you request that revocation from specific companies through its portal.
Your rights with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD): consent, erasure and objection
In addition to registering on the Robinson List, the Spanish Data Protection Agency recommends three additional options. Revoke the consent you previously gave to any company that calls you without your consent.using their customer service channels or exercising their rights.
Exercise your right to erasure when you want an entity to delete your data, and your right to object to prevent it from continuing to use your data for advertising purposes. If, two months after registering on the Robinson List, you continue to receive calls without legal basisYou can file a complaint with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD).
Safety recommendations that make a difference
The National Police and criminology experts insist on simple guidelines. Do not answer unknown numbers if you suspect anything, and do not hang up immediately after verifying the line.Let the inbox pop up and, if it's important, they'll leave you a message.
Never share sensitive data over the phone. No legitimate bank or service will ever ask for passwords, one-time codes, or card numbers over the phone.If someone contacts you via WhatsApp or SMS pretending to be a family member in distress, call that person yourself through a secure channel to verify their identity.
The trick of who was on the other end of the phone
A former telemarketer with experience in surveys and promotions explains a preventative method that works: Use native features to automatically identify and reject suspicious patterns And if they call you, don't answer and mark it as spam immediately.
Furthermore, if you manage to speak with someone from a legitimate company, ask them to remove your number from their business database.According to the law, the company is obligated to honor that request; be firm but polite, the callers are not responsible for company policy.
What not to do and bad advice to avoid?
Recommendations of all kinds are circulating to cut spam. One of them suggests disabling the Show Caller ID option On Android or iPhone. All that does is hide your number when you make calls; it doesn't block incoming calls and doesn't reduce the spam you receive.
Another common mistake is hastily adding unknown numbers to the address book with confusing labels. It's better to use spam tagging systems or phone app blocking.This helps the filters learn and protects you without filling your schedule with noise.
Special cases: international numbers, hidden numbers, and mass campaigns
Some of the harassment comes from foreign area codes or blocked numbers. If you frequently receive unwanted international calls, block those area codes. if your mobile phone allows it or uses websites to find numbers or lists in third-party apps to filter them.
With phantom calls from automated systems, patience and blocking. If they call you and hang up, mark that number as spam and move on.The more reports these ranges accumulate, the faster they are filtered at the network or application level.
Regarding possible changes in commercial prefixes
A measure has been announced that would force companies to use specific ranges for business calls and operators to block disguised calls. According to what was announced, this would allow one to identify at a glance that it is advertising. and would curb some of the spam at its source.
Until any technical and regulatory changes take effect, What is most effective continues to be the combination of phone filters, reputable apps, and your rights before the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD).That sum is what truly reduces the volume of unwanted calls.
Quick guide: key steps on Android and iPhone
For Android, the minimum recommended itinerary is to activate spam identification and filtering in Google Phone. Next, block numbers in Recents and use the Mark as Spam option when something slips through.
- Google Phone > Settings > Caller ID and Spam
- Activate View caller ID and Filter spam calls
- Rate Verified Calls
- Recent > Mark as spam where appropriate
On iPhone, muting unknown numbers is especially effective if you don't expect calls from outside your contacts. This way, anything your iPhone doesn't recognize will go to voicemail.The record will remain in recent items in case you want to return any.
Habits that save you trouble
Avoid posting your number on websites or forums of dubious reliability and uncheck promotional consent boxes when registering for services. Read privacy policies carefully and, when possible, opt out of sharing your data with third parties..
If you receive a suspicious call with a tempting offer or an urgent request for payment, take a breath and compare notes. Hang up on them and contact the entity directly through official channels.Haste and pressure are classic social engineering techniques.
When to report
If two months have passed since you registered on the Robinson List and companies with which you have no relationship or consent continue to call you, gather evidence. Write down dates, numbers, and, if possible, take screenshots to support a complaint to the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD).
If you suspect a crime or an attempted scam (request for bank details, threats, coercion), Contact the National Police or the Civil Guard and provide all available information. Reporting helps to stop networks that harass thousands of people.
Quick questions about spam calls
Is it worth installing multiple lock apps at once? It's not a good idea; they can interfere with each other.It's best to have one well-configured one, and if you're not convinced, try another.
Will I miss important calls if I block unknown numbers? That risk exists.That's why it's preferable to use a spam filter and mark each call as spam individually, unless you're very strict about who can call you.
How long does it take for the Robinson List to have an effect? The practical margin ranges from about 8 to 12 weeksFrom then on, you should receive less advertising, except for consents that are still valid.
With all of the above activated and a little consistency, your phone will stop ringing at odd hours and you'll regain control over who reaches your screen. Configure filters, use exclusion lists, report suspicious calls, and above all, don't share sensitive data; this is the combination that truly works to stop phone spam. Share this information so more people can learn how to block spam calls.