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Reducing Unwanted Calls on Your Phone

Once you have identified that a number is unwanted, whether it is persistent marketing, a silent call, or something that looks like a scam attempt, there are several general approaches available for reducing how often it reaches you. The exact steps vary by phone model and network provider, so treat the following as a general overview rather than instructions for a specific device.

Built in blocking features on smartphones

Most modern smartphones include a native way to block a specific number directly from the call log or contacts list. Once blocked, calls from that number are typically either silenced, sent straight to voicemail, or rejected automatically, depending on the device and operating system. This is usually the quickest way to deal with a single persistent number.

Call screening and spam identification apps

Many mobile operating systems and third party apps offer a feature that attempts to identify likely spam or scam calls before you answer, often by cross referencing the number against reports submitted by other users. These tools can be useful as an extra layer of information, though they rely on crowd sourced data and are not always accurate or up to date for every number.

Network level options

Mobile network providers in South Africa generally offer some combination of the following, though availability and the exact process differ by provider:

The ability to report a number as spam or nuisance directly through the provider's app or customer service line
Call barring settings that let you block all international calls, or all calls from unknown or withheld numbers, which can be useful if most unwanted calls come from outside the country
Do not disturb style services that silence calls from numbers not saved in your contacts during certain hours

It is worth checking with your specific provider to see which of these features are available on your plan and how to activate them.

Landline specific considerations

For landline numbers, blocking individual numbers is sometimes more limited than on a mobile device, since the feature depends on the exchange equipment and the service provider. Many landline users instead rely on simply not answering numbers they do not recognise and letting an answering service or voicemail handle the call, then returning calls that turn out to be genuine.

Reducing how often your number is shared

Beyond blocking calls after they happen, you can also reduce how often your number ends up on marketing or data lists in the first place:

Avoid entering your phone number into online forms or competitions unless necessary
Read the fine print on forms that ask for consent to be contacted about offers or promotions, and opt out where possible
Ask businesses directly how they intend to use your number before providing it, particularly for one off purchases or sign ups

When blocking is not enough

If a number continues to call after being blocked, it may indicate that the caller is using a system that rotates through many different numbers automatically. In these cases, broader settings such as silencing all unknown callers, combined with reporting the pattern to your network provider, tend to be more effective than trying to block each individual number as it appears.

Managing unwanted calls is rarely a single action but a combination of device settings, network features and general caution about where your number is shared.