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Check Out the Silence Unknown Callers Feature in iOS 13 for Blocking Spam Calls
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Wow, that's it?
I thought Apple was the best at taking something that's already out there and making it the best thing ever? The example to be copied here is Android - the two features are screen call and suspected spam caller. You hit screen call on a suspected spammer, a robot responds to the number saying what's up? why you calling? You can then proceed to block the number if need be.
I thought Apple was the best at taking something that's already out there and making it the best thing ever? The example to be copied here is Android - the two features are screen call and suspected spam caller. You hit screen call on a suspected spammer, a robot responds to the number saying what's up? why you calling? You can then proceed to block the number if need be.
I don’t disagree that it’s harsh, but blocking only unknown/no caller ID calls is so lenient as to be useless, at least in the US where robocallers spoof caller ID.
Personally, I use do not disturb, accepting calls from favorites and with the repeated calls set to “on”. Adding contacts I want to ring through to a whitelist (favorites) is a bit of a pain, but in my outgoing message I tell callers they’re being screened, but to hang up and call back within two minutes and my phone will ring. Seems to work for me. Legit callers either leave a vm or call back and I answer.
Does not solve the root cause of the problem. Unusable by people whose jobs involve taking calls from unknown parties. I have my phone already on “mute” and let calls from numbers I do not know go to voicemail. So this basically does the same thing.
I want a system where any number not recognized by the CARRIER - a fake number without a paying customer or business - be dumped.
Once again, we’re back to the only ones who can fix that, and it’s the carriers.
The government could fine the perpetrators, no matter where they are, or the carriers if they don’t enforce it.
I want a system where any number not recognized by the CARRIER - a fake number without a paying customer or business - be dumped.
Once again, we’re back to the only ones who can fix that, and it’s the carriers.
The government could fine the perpetrators, no matter where they are, or the carriers if they don’t enforce it.
"If you call a number that was sent straight to voicemail, however, it is no longer recognized as an unknown number even if that number isn't added to your contacts."
So there's a list of unblocked numbers in the phone that the user can't see? Sounds like something to be exploited by others to get around the call block.
So there's a list of unblocked numbers in the phone that the user can't see? Sounds like something to be exploited by others to get around the call block.
Interesting. In the US, they will leave a voicemail, however due to HIPAA, it won’t have any medical information. Just “this is so and so from Dr. blah blah’s office and we need to speak with you about your appointment or whatever ”
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That’s meant to be a feature. Suppose you call someone who isn’t in your contact list, and for whatever reason (perhaps they are using this function also!), you get their voicemail. If they try to call you right back, you probably want to take their call.
So the people you’ve called become “known” numbers by default.
This could sometimes be a problem for me, because I sometimes get distracted when reviewing voicemail and accidentally tap the call back link. But in general I think it’s a matter of Apple doing what what they think you’re most likely to want rather than giving you a ton of options to choose from. That’s SOP for them since 1984.
As for the secret list of unblocked numbers, my guess would be that they use the outgoing calls on the Recents tab. You can delete accidental or regretted calls from this list, and that should remove them from the unblocked list.
I love this feature. I’m contacting businesses I need to talk to when they call and making them tell me what number they are going to use to call me so I can add them to my contacts and thereby identify them when they call. If they don’t like this I let them know I will never answer their unidentified call, but that they should feel free to send me a letter.
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Every AT&T customer should download "AT&T Call Protect." It is a great app that blocks these spammers by using a database that is updated constantly, by customers/AT&T/and whoever runs the database, and it is free for the "basic plan."
You can go into the app and look at the numbers that it has blocked, and it will give you a "Threat" rating, ranging from mild to severe. Obviously severe is a known spammer and is auto blocked. For the most part, the calls that should get through do, and the ones that should not, do not. Occasionally it will block a number that is someone you need to talk too, but that is when you go in the app and let it know that the number it just blocked is not spam etc. With this Call Protect app and "Silence Unknown Callers," I rarely get any sort of phone call I do not want.
Verizon has a version that is called "Verizon Call Filter," however, it has a horrible rating (1.9) and horrible reviews vs. AT&T Call Protect that has a great rating (4.6) and generally great reviews. My mother has Verizon and that Call Filter app and says it is not that great at all. I am not sure if you can use AT&T Call Protect if you are on a different provider or not...might have to pay? Also, I am not sure but I would imagine that T-Mobile and Sprint have there own versions of these apps.
I pay the extra $3.99/month for the "Plus plan" which offers some more services vs. the basic, however, for most people the basic plan should be absolutely fine. Here is a screenshot showing the difference between the basic and plus plans.
You can go into the app and look at the numbers that it has blocked, and it will give you a "Threat" rating, ranging from mild to severe. Obviously severe is a known spammer and is auto blocked. For the most part, the calls that should get through do, and the ones that should not, do not. Occasionally it will block a number that is someone you need to talk too, but that is when you go in the app and let it know that the number it just blocked is not spam etc. With this Call Protect app and "Silence Unknown Callers," I rarely get any sort of phone call I do not want.
Verizon has a version that is called "Verizon Call Filter," however, it has a horrible rating (1.9) and horrible reviews vs. AT&T Call Protect that has a great rating (4.6) and generally great reviews. My mother has Verizon and that Call Filter app and says it is not that great at all. I am not sure if you can use AT&T Call Protect if you are on a different provider or not...might have to pay? Also, I am not sure but I would imagine that T-Mobile and Sprint have there own versions of these apps.
I pay the extra $3.99/month for the "Plus plan" which offers some more services vs. the basic, however, for most people the basic plan should be absolutely fine. Here is a screenshot showing the difference between the basic and plus plans.
Yes I'm hoping that if you call someone back and it isn't what you expect that you can put them back on the 'unknown' list.
This is perfect. All these sorts of calls are from spoofed caller ID numbers anyway, so there’s no point blocking them. If it’s a legit call, they’ll leave a message.
Really? Meanwhile, Apple still hasn't fixed the iPhone's most ridiculous defect: It doesn't audibly notify you of MISSED CALLS.
Yep, a basic function of phones from the '90s (and answering machines from the '80s)... is missing from Apple's handheld Unix computer-phone. This after well over a decade of complaints, during which they added the feature for TEXTS, BUT NOT PHONE CALLS.
Morons.
Yep, a basic function of phones from the '90s (and answering machines from the '80s)... is missing from Apple's handheld Unix computer-phone. This after well over a decade of complaints, during which they added the feature for TEXTS, BUT NOT PHONE CALLS.
Morons.
Not perfect but better than without it! Essentially it just automatically sends the unknown callers to voicemail instead of having to do it manually, plus it removes the interruption. I hope some logical improvements are forthcoming.
My spam phone calls grew 10x at least when I switched to an iPhone.
Turns out Android based phones come with a built in database that blocks known spam and robo calls.
I know you can get apps for the iphone that have a database and do some of it but it's the little things like this that make Android so much easier to own and be happy with.
Turns out Android based phones come with a built in database that blocks known spam and robo calls.
I know you can get apps for the iphone that have a database and do some of it but it's the little things like this that make Android so much easier to own and be happy with.
Not really a great feature for me for 2 main reasons:-
1. If I get a call from my kids nursery, or the doctors or the hospital or many other places that come up unknown number, I want to answer that call as it may be an emergency.
2. I use my phone for business use too and get calls from people whose numbers I do not have and I don't want to punt them all on to my voicemail.
I'd rather continue to add numbers to blocked contacts (or whatever it's called) than implement this and I do appreciate that it will be optional.
A little disappointing from Apple in my opinion.
1. If I get a call from my kids nursery, or the doctors or the hospital or many other places that come up unknown number, I want to answer that call as it may be an emergency.
2. I use my phone for business use too and get calls from people whose numbers I do not have and I don't want to punt them all on to my voicemail.
I'd rather continue to add numbers to blocked contacts (or whatever it's called) than implement this and I do appreciate that it will be optional.
A little disappointing from Apple in my opinion.
This is the feature that really got me started contemplating an upgrade from my 6 to an XR (and switching carriers while I'm at it).
The more I think about it though, the more I'm not sure whether or not I'll use it. I could try and be proactive and add 'unknown numbers' (those from my doctor's offices, mechanic etc) to my contacts list, but even still - when sending out job apps or doing work related stuff, I would have to shut it off and go back to blocking numbers one by one as they came in.
The concept of the feature is good, but the execution leaves much to be desired. Apple should've made this more granular from the beginning instead of sticking to just a blanket option like they did.
The more I think about it though, the more I'm not sure whether or not I'll use it. I could try and be proactive and add 'unknown numbers' (those from my doctor's offices, mechanic etc) to my contacts list, but even still - when sending out job apps or doing work related stuff, I would have to shut it off and go back to blocking numbers one by one as they came in.
The concept of the feature is good, but the execution leaves much to be desired. Apple should've made this more granular from the beginning instead of sticking to just a blanket option like they did.
Try again apple as your solution is crap. I recommend going to look at Android or more so the pixel for a better and useful solution. That solution is hg Ave a setting to tell user if the call is suspect spam and then silent those and send them straight to voicemail
This feature will work for a small minority of customers who only use their phone to call home, work, or family etc. I get business calls from new and unannounced callers and businesses all the time. This will not work for me.
We need an app that can identify spoofed numbers. Just about every scam call I receive is from a spoofed number that uses my area code and a phone number similar to mine. Or the usual 800 or 877 number. When I call back the number with my caller ID blocked it is a bogus number. Every time. My father in law calls from an unknown number, not to mention when I need to deal with government or law enforcement they always call back from unknown or blocked numbers.
Just the other day I received a call from my own number...
We need an app that can identify spoofed numbers. Just about every scam call I receive is from a spoofed number that uses my area code and a phone number similar to mine. Or the usual 800 or 877 number. When I call back the number with my caller ID blocked it is a bogus number. Every time. My father in law calls from an unknown number, not to mention when I need to deal with government or law enforcement they always call back from unknown or blocked numbers.
Just the other day I received a call from my own number...