The phone rings. You look at the number and don’t recognize it.
Is it the doctor’s office? A family member calling from a different number? Someone from the bank?
Or is it another spam call?
For older adults especially, unwanted calls and text messages are more than an annoyance. They can create confusion and open the door to scams. Fortunately, there are several simple steps you can take to reduce them.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) encourages consumers to take advantage of call-blocking and labeling tools available through their phones and telephone providers.
1. Turn On Your Phone’s Built-In Spam Protection
Start with the phone itself.
On an iPhone
Apple offers a feature that can silence calls from numbers that aren’t recognized. Instead of ringing, these calls are sent to voicemail and still appear in your recent calls.
Look in your iPhone’s Settings for the phone or call settings and the option to silence unknown callers.
See the FCC’s iPhone tip sheet.
This can be helpful, but use it carefully. A doctor’s office, pharmacy, hospital, home care agency, or other legitimate caller may be calling from a number that isn’t saved in your contacts.
On an Android Phone
Many Android phones also have built-in caller ID and spam protection.
Open your Phone app, look under Settings, and find the options related to Caller ID, Spam, or Call Screening.
The exact wording will depend on your phone.
See the FCC’s Android tip sheet.
2. Check With Your Phone Company
Your wireless or home phone provider may offer additional tools that identify, filter, or block suspected spam calls.
The FCC allows phone companies to use reasonable analytics to identify and block unwanted calls, and providers may offer additional blocking options to customers.
For carrier-specific steps, see the AT&T ActiveArmor / Call Protect tip sheet, T-Mobile Scam Shield tip sheet, and Verizon Call Filter tip sheet.
If you’re helping an aging parent, this is something you can do together. Contact their phone provider and ask:
“What free spam and scam call protection is available on this account?”
You may discover that protection is already available but hasn’t been turned on.
3. Block Repeat Callers
If the same unwanted number keeps calling, block it directly from the phone.
On most smartphones, you can open the recent calls list, select the number, and choose Block Caller or Block/Report Spam.
This won’t eliminate every unwanted call because scammers frequently change or disguise numbers, but it can help with repeat callers.
4. Don’t Engage With Suspicious Text Messages
Unwanted texts require a slightly different approach.
If a message looks suspicious, don’t click the link, provide information, or respond to it. The FCC specifically advises consumers not to respond to suspicious texts, even when the message tells you to reply “STOP.”
You can also forward an unwanted text to 7726 (SPAM), which helps your wireless provider identify and address spam messages.
Then delete the message.
5. Report Unwanted Calls and Texts
You can also report unwanted calls and texts directly to the FCC.
The FCC’s Consumer Complaint Center accepts complaints involving unwanted calls, robocalls, robotexts, and caller ID spoofing. When filing a complaint, select “unwanted calls/texts” as the phone issue.
FCC Consumer Complaint Center: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov/hc/en-us
It’s important to understand what reporting does. The FCC says it generally does not resolve individual unwanted-call complaints. Instead, complaints provide information that can support enforcement efforts and help regulators identify patterns and trends.
One More Step for Families
If you’re helping an aging parent, don’t just block calls. Take a few minutes to look through their recent calls and text messages together.
Are they receiving an unusual number of calls?
Are the same organizations repeatedly contacting them?
Are there messages claiming they owe money?
Is someone asking them to purchase gift cards, transfer money, provide banking information, or give out a verification code?
Have they started answering calls because they’re worried about missing something important?
Technology can filter some of the noise, but it can’t replace awareness. Families dealing with financial scams or suspected exploitation often need that same careful look at patterns not just one odd call.
Consider saving important numbers in their contacts, including family members, physicians, pharmacies, financial advisors, care managers, and other people they regularly work with. That makes it easier to distinguish a familiar caller from an unknown one.
If you live out of town, long-distance caregiving support can put a local professional on the ground so you are not guessing from another state.
Make This a 10-Minute Family Project
The next time you’re visiting Mom or Dad, spend ten minutes together:
- Turn on the phone’s spam protection.
- Check what protection their phone carrier offers.
- Block obvious repeat spam callers.
- Review suspicious recent calls and texts.
- Save important people and organizations to their contacts.
- Explain one simple rule: If you’re unsure who is calling or texting, don’t provide information. Call someone you trust first.
A few minutes spent adjusting a phone today could prevent a much bigger problem tomorrow.
At EasyLiving, we believe Aging Wisely means being proactive. Small steps that reduce risk, prevent problems, and give families greater visibility can make a meaningful difference as someone ages. If money or decision-making looks off alongside the spam, read how to talk about financial abuse and organizing spending, or Contact Us to talk through what you’re seeing.
Sources
- FCC: Stop Unwanted Robocalls and Texts
- FCC Consumer Complaint Center
- National Do Not Call Registry
- FCC tip sheet: Blocking Unwanted Calls on iPhone
- FCC tip sheet: Blocking Unwanted Calls on Android
- FCC tip sheet: AT&T ActiveArmor / Call Protect
- FCC tip sheet: T-Mobile Scam Shield
- FCC tip sheet: Verizon Call Filter
