Unwanted spam calls are a persistent nuisance. Marketing and promotional calls frequently disrupt daily routines and can sometimes lead to fraudulent schemes. These unsolicited calls may originate from telemarketers, robocallers, or scammers. While spam calls can be quite bothersome, it is not feasible to simply ignore them or keep your phone on silent for extended periods. Additionally, activating Do Not Disturb (DND) mode for too long may result in missing crucial calls from delivery services or other important contacts. So, what options are available?
Register with the National Do Not Call Registry
A simple and effective method to reduce spam calls is to register your phone number with the National Customer Preference Register (NCPR), previously known as the National Do Not Call Registry (NDNC). This service enables users to opt-out of receiving telemarketing calls.
To activate the DND service:
- Open your SMS application and send “START” to 1909.
- You will receive a list of categories, such as Banking, Hospitality, etc., each assigned a unique code.
- Reply with the code corresponding to the category of calls you wish to block.
- After processing, you will receive a confirmation message, and the DND service will be activated within 24 hours.
- This service effectively prevents unsolicited commercial calls from third parties while allowing essential notifications from banks or service providers.
Activate DND Service through Telecom Providers
You may also enable DND services directly via your telecom operator:
- Jio: Access the MyJio app > Settings > Service settings > Do Not Disturb. Choose the categories you wish to block.
- Airtel: Navigate to airtel.in/airtel-dnd, input your mobile number and OTP, then select the categories you want to block.
- Vi (Vodafone Idea): Go to discover.vodafone.in/dnd, enter your details, and select the categories to block.
- BSNL: Send “start dnd” to 1909 from your BSNL number, then choose the categories you wish to block.
It is possible to manually block specific phone numbers
For users of Android devices, the process is as follows:
- Launch the Phone application and navigate to the call log.
- Press and hold the spam number, then choose “Block” or “Report.”
- While this approach is effective, it may have limitations since spam callers often change their numbers.
Filter Unknown Calls
Android smartphones also provide an option to automatically filter calls from unknown or potentially spam numbers:
- Open the Phone application.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon and select Settings.
- Choose “Caller ID & Spam” and enable “Filter spam calls” and “See caller & spam ID.”
- This functionality assists in muting calls from numbers not saved in your contacts, thereby minimizing disruptions from possible spam.