How to stop spam calls on landline

The Global Threat Report by Hiya highlighted over 12.5 billion suspected spam calls in Q1 2025, with 9 percent of that number being related to fraud. These intrusive calls are a privacy risk and may expose you to potential fraud.

The good news is that there are practical ways to stop spam calls. You can go the manual route, such as blocking numbers on your phone. You can also use tools like Incogni, which make it harder for spammers to find you and ultimately cut down the number of annoying calls you get.

This guide will show you how to block spam calls on landline phones and protect your privacy.

How to stop spam calls on your landline

1. Add your number to the National Do Not Call Registry.
2. Block unwanted numbers using your phone’s call-blocking feature.
3. Use a data removal service like Incogni to delete your personal information from the databases telemarketers and spammers use to find you.

What are spam calls and why can they be dangerous?

Spam calls are unwanted phone calls that usually come from unknown or suspicious numbers. Often, they’re just annoying marketers trying to sell you something. But, sometimes, they can be much more dangerous.

Scammers often use spam calls to trick people into giving away personal information or money by pretending to be someone trustworthy, like a bank representative or government agent. These calls can be especially risky for vulnerable people, like the elderly, who might not realize they’re being scammed until it's too late.

So, while spam calls may initially seem like a minor annoyance, they can seriously threaten your privacy and security.

Types of spam calls

Spam calls come in different forms, and knowing the differences can help you stay safe. Here are the most common types of spam calls:

1. Telemarketing calls. These calls promote products or services. They are more annoying than harmful.
2. Scam calls. Scam calls come from fraudsters posing as legitimate organizations, such as banks or the IRS. Scam calls may aim to steal your money or personal information.
3. Charity calls. You may receive calls from telemarketers hired by non-profit organisations, encouraging you to sign up for regular donations or make a one-time donation.
4. Political and survey calls. These calls are common during elections. They usually involve people asking for your opinion or support.
5. Robocalls. Robocalls are automated, pre-recorded messages often used for marketing. These may be legitimate calls, but scammers also use robocalls to target unsuspecting victims.

Why am I getting so many spam calls?

Here are some of the most common reasons why you are getting a large number of spam calls.

• Your number is publicly available. There’s a higher chance of getting spam calls if your phone number is listed on your social media profiles, online forms or public directories. It is easy for scammers to access this data and add your number to their call list.
• Data breaches. Spammers can access or buy your details if it has been previously exposed in a data breach.
• Robocalls. Scammers often use automated calls to make calls to a large percentage of individuals, hoping to get a response from a small percentage.
• Phone number recycling. Your new phone number may have been subject to spam calls from the previous owner, and that is likely to continue even though it has been reassigned to you.
• Shared services. More often than not, your phone number may be shared or sold to third-party marketers if you’ve ever subscribed to promotions that require you to input your number.
• Fraudulent activity. Scammers often take on the persona of legitimate businesses to entice you into giving them sensitive information like your credit card details or SSN.
• Targeted marketing. Most companies sell and buy phone numbers to build their audience. You may have also opted into marketing communications, increasing the chances of unsolicited calls.

How to block unwanted calls on a landline

You can take several measures to effectively get rid of spam calls on landline phones. Here are some steps to block unwanted calls on landlines to protect yourself and maintain your privacy:

1. Register with the National Do Not Call Registry

The first step you can take is to register with the National Do Not Call Registry. This service, managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), offers a free way to block unwanted calls on landline phones. Once you sign up, telemarketers can no longer contact you.

However, it’s important to note that the registry won’t block all spam calls, such as those from political campaigns, charities, debt collection calls, informational calls, and telephone survey calls. It also will not stop scammers from contacting you.

To register with the National Do Not Call Registry, visit www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the landline you want to protect from spam calls. After completing the registration, telemarketers might take up to 31 days to stop calling you.

This method is useful for blocking legitimate sales calls but doesn’t address all unwanted types of spam calls, so you’ll need to use other methods for broader protection.

2. Use the built-in call-blocking feature on your phone

Many modern landline phones come with built-in call-blocking features, which you can use to block specific numbers. This feature is especially useful if you regularly receive calls from persistent individual telemarketers, robocallers, or scammers.

The process of blocking a phone number may differ depending on your phone model. Typically, you’ll need to go to the “Settings” or “Menu” option on your phone and add the unwanted number to a list of blocked contacts.

Many phones allow you to block multiple numbers, often up to 250 numbers. This feature offers a hands-on way to prevent unwanted numbers from reaching your phone.

3. Use a robocall blocker

If robocalls are a constant nuisance, using a robocall blocker could be a game-changer. Robocall blockers are available as physical devices and digital services. These machines or services filter out unwanted calls automatically. They work by identifying common robocall patterns or having the caller complete a simple test, like pressing a specific button to check if the call is automated.

Robocall blockers like Nomorobo can also block known spam numbers very effectively. Depending on the service or device, robocall blockers may connect directly to your phone line or through your phone provider. This method is highly effective in reducing the volume of robocalls.

Some robocall blockers even come with advanced features that allow them to identify and block calls before they reach your phone, helping to keep your line free of interruptions.

4. Block individual phone numbers

Another option is to block individual numbers through your phone or service provider. If you keep getting calls from specific numbers, you can manually block them.

The specific process may vary depending in your carrier, but one popular method is to dial *60# on your landline phone, followed by the number you wish to block. If this doesn’t work for you, double-check with your carrier to confirm the right method.

Many providers also have online platforms where you can manage blocked numbers, but some providers restrict the number of numbers you can block. So, you’ll need to focus on the most persistent or annoying callers when using this option.

5. Use caller ID and call screening

Caller ID and call screening can be powerful tools to stop unwanted landline calls. Caller ID shows who’s calling before you pick up the phone, allowing you to ignore calls from unfamiliar or suspicious numbers.

Call screening adds a layer of protection by forcing callers to identify themselves or press a specific key before connecting. This feature is especially useful for weeding out robocalls, as automated systems will mostly fail these tests.

To enable Caller ID, check with your phone provider to determine if your plan includes it, and consult your phone’s manual to see if it supports the feature.

Caller ID and call screening can help you make more informed decisions about which calls to answer and which to let go to voicemail. This minimizes the risk of engaging with unwanted or fraudulent callers.

Alternative ways to block spam calls

Dealing with spam calls can be a real annoyance, but luckily, there are several ways to block them. Besides the options above, you can use third-party apps like RoboKiller or Truecaller to block spam calls, but only if your primary line is a mobile device.

These apps can automatically block spam calls before they even reach you. They work by identifying known spam numbers and filtering them out, so you don’t have to deal with any unwanted calls.

You can also block unwanted numbers manually on your phone. Most smartphones let you block numbers with just a click, and many modern landline phones have similar functionality. Turning on your "Do Not Disturb" mode can also help to silence calls from unknown numbers so you're not constantly interrupted.

One of the most effective and lasting ways to stop spam calls at the source is using a data removal service like Incogni. Spam callers often get your number from data broker sites. Incogni works by removing your details from those sites, making it harder for spammers to get your number in the first place.

Get started with Incogni

How to help your senior parents/grandparents set up blockers

Here are some easy steps to take if you want to set up blockers and protect your grandparents from unwanted interruptions.

• Use call-blocking services for landlines. The fastest step is to set up call blockers on their phones. Call blockers like RoboKiller automatically block spam calls and notify you of potential scams.
• Enable your phone’s built-in call blocking. Enable the built-in call blocking features that allow you to report spam or block unknown numbers on your grandparents’ devices.
• Contact their phone provider. You can try contacting their phone company to set up features like spam detection, caller ID, and call blocking.
• Add their number to the National Do Not Call Registry. Try helping your grandparents register their contacts with the National Do Not Call Registry. This helps to limit unwanted telemarketing calls.
• Teach them about robocalls and scams. Sensitize your grandparents on the most common ways to identify scams or robocalls. Explain why they should be wary if an unwanted number gives them an offer over the phone that sounds too good to be true. It is probably a good idea to hang up.

Extra tips to stop unwanted robocalls and avoid phone scams

Here are some more helpful tips on how to stop spam calls on landline phones and avoid scams.

• Don’t answer unfamiliar numbers. Scammers can’t engage you if you don’t pick up. It’s best to send a call to voicemail if it’s an unfamiliar number.
• Hang up immediately. If you’re suspicious of a call but you’ve already answered, hang up immediately. If you speak to the caller or press any buttons, it indicates to the scammer that your number is active, making them try continuously.
• Use a call screening service. Try activating your mobile phone’s spam protection feature or choosing a call screening service to help you block and screen suspicious calls.
• Report unwanted calls. Report scams or robocalls to the Federal Communications Commission or the Federal Trade Commission to help them monitor and take action against these scammers.
• Avoid giving out personal information. Do not give out your personal information easily, especially details like your SSN, passwords, or bank account number.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). To prevent scammers from accessing all your information, consider using 2FA to add an extra layer of security to important accounts.
• Block repeat offenders: Block numbers that repeatedly call your phone, whether it's spam or robocalls. You can block and report such numbers with your phone.

Conclusion

While setting a call blocker, registering with the Do Not Call Registry, or using your phone’s call-blocking features can help, it only solves one part of the problem, and not the underlying issue – keeping your contact away from scammers.

This is even more important when your grandparents are involved. They may not be savvy enough to block these robocalls that keep interrupting their peace of mind, and even with these steps on how to stop spam calls on landline phones, they’ll always slip through.

The truth is that most solutions only deal with individual callers and don’t stop new ones from contacting you. The only real long-term solution is to prevent spammers from getting your details in the first place. Data removal services like Incogni are designed for this purpose.

Incogni erases your information from data broker sites that sell your details to marketers and scammers. This significantly reduces the number of spam calls you get, offering a more permanent fix to the problem.

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