What You Can Do

• Can I stop getting SPAM and marketing SMS?Steps to take to reduce the calls or text
  Your phone’s built-in SMS filtering feature that helps keep scam and spam text messages out of your main inbox — typically by sorting messages from unknown or suspicious senders into a separate folder. (Yahoo Tech)Here’s how it works on common phones: iPhone (iOS)
• Go to Settings → Messages.
• Turn on “Filter Unknown Senders” or enable Message Filtering.
• Your phone will then move SMS/MMS from numbers not in your contacts into an Unknown & Spam tab — greatly reducing scam texts in your main list. (Yahoo Tech)
•  Android
• Many Android phones (especially with Google Messages) have a Spam Protection option under Messages → Settings → Spam Protection.
• Turn on Enable Spam Protection and the phone will automatically identify and filter likely scam/spam messages. (9News)
•  Why this helps
• Scam texts often come from numbers you don’t recognise and contain suspicious links or phrases.
• Filtering moves them out of your main inbox so you’re less likely to click on dangerous links. (Yahoo Tech)
•  But it’s not perfect
• Neither built-in filtering nor network filters catch every scam; some still get through and some legitimate messages may mistakenly be filtered. (9News)
• In Australia, mobile networks like Telstra also offer network-level scam SMS filters that block many scam texts before they reach your phone (with opt-out options). (iTnews)
  
  How about the SPAM calls?
  1. Use Built-in “Call Screening” (The Best Defense)Modern smartphones now include AI “gatekeepers” that talk to the caller for you before your phone even rings.
• On Android (Pixel & Samsung): Go to Settings > Spam and Call Screen. You can set your phone to automatically screen unknown numbers. The phone will ask the caller who they are and why they’re calling, and you’ll see a real-time transcript on your screen.+2
• On iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Screen Unknown Callers. You can choose “Ask Reason for Calling.” This forces the caller to state their business; most automated spam bots will simply hang up at this stage.
• 2. Silence Unknown CallersIf you don’t mind missing calls from numbers not in your contact list (they can still leave a voicemail), this is the most effective “nuclear” option.
• iPhone: Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers.
• Android: Open the Phone app > Settings > Blocked numbers > Toggle on Unknown.
• 3. Activate Carrier-Level ProtectionMost major mobile carriers now offer free “Scam Shield” or “ActiveArmor” apps. These block calls at the network level before they even hit your device.
• Check your carrier’s app or website to see if you have a free “Spam ID” or “Scam Block” feature waiting to be toggled on.
• 4. Use Third-Party AppsIf the built-in tools aren’t enough, specialized apps maintain massive, community-updated databases of scam numbers.
• Truecaller: Excellent for identifying exactly who is calling, even if they aren’t in your contacts.
• Pro-Tips for 2026
• The “Yes” Trap: If you do answer a suspicious call, never say the word “Yes.” Scammers often record this to authorize fraudulent charges later.
• Report, Don’t Just Delete: When you get a spam call, take three seconds to “Report as Spam” in your call log. This helps the AI learn and protects other people from that same number.
• Do Not Call Registry: Ensure your number is registered at https://www.donotcall.gov.au/ While it won’t stop illegal scammers, it stops legitimate companies from pestering you.
• RoboKiller: Uses “Answer Bots” to actually answer the call and waste the scammer’s time with pre-recorded nonsense.
• Hiya: A great, clean option for basic spam detection and area-code blocking.