Turn Off This One Phone Setting to Instantly Avoid Becoming an All-Types-of-Scam Victim

(The Single Change That Stops Calls, Texts, and Imposters)

In an age where your phone is your wallet, your photo album, and your virtual office, it’s also become a primary target for scammers. From the “IRS agent” on the phone to the urgent “delivery problem” text message, the attacks are constant and evolving.

But what if there was one single, powerful setting on both your Android and iPhone that could put a massive wall between you and nearly all phone-based scams?

Good news: there is.

The single most effective setting you can change today to prevent phone scams on iPhone and Android is to Silence Unknown Callers (or its Android equivalent, Filter Spam Calls).

Why “Silence Unknown Callers” Is Your Digital Shield

Think of your phone’s call function as a front door. When this setting is off (the default state for many), your door is wide open for anyone to walk right in—whether it’s your doctor, a friend, or a random spammer from a spoofed number.

When you turn on the Silence Unknown Callers setting, you effectively install a digital security guard.

How This One Setting Stops Most Scams:

• Stops Phone Imposters: Scammers thrive on urgency. If they can’t get through, they can’t pressure you into sending money, sharing a one-time code, or clicking a malicious link.
• Neutralizes Spoofing: Scam calls often “spoof” local numbers (using your area code) to trick you into picking up. This feature stops all numbers not in your contacts, regardless of how official they look.
• Prevents “One-Ring” Scams: These quick calls aim to bait you into calling back a premium-rate international number. Since the call is silenced, you won’t even know it happened.

The Key takeaway? If they can’t talk to you, they can’t scam you.

How to Activate Your Scam-Proof Setting (Android & iPhone)

While the names are slightly different, the goal is the same: automatically stop spam calls and texts from ringing your phone.

For iPhone (iOS) Users:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Phone.
3. Scroll down to the Call Silencing and Blocked Contacts section.
4. Tap on Silence Unknown Callers.
5. Toggle the switch ON (it should turn green).

What happens next? Calls from any number not in your Contacts, recent outgoing calls list, or Siri Suggestions will be silenced, sent to voicemail, and displayed in your Recents list. Calls from people you know will still ring normally.

For Android (Google Phone App) Users:

The setting can vary slightly by manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.), but the core feature is available on most modern Android devices via the Phone app.

1. Open the Phone app (the icon you use to make calls).
2. Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) or the Settings gear icon.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Look for and tap Spam and Call Screen (or Caller ID and Spam Protection).
5. Ensure Caller ID and spam protection is ON.
6. You may see an option like Filter spam calls or Block spam and scam calls. Make sure this is also ON.

What happens next? Google uses advanced technology to identify suspected spam and scam calls. It will label these calls as “Spam” or “Scam Likely” and either silence them or send them straight to voicemail, without your phone ever ringing.

The Next Level: Stopping Smishing Text Messages

Phone scams aren’t just calls; smishing text message protection is just as vital. “Smishing” is phishing via SMS, and it often involves a text about a fake package delivery, a bank alert, or a gift card prize, all designed to get you to click a malicious link.

Fortunately, both operating systems offer a simple solution here, too: filtering unknown senders.

For iPhone (iMessage) Users:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap Messages.
3. Scroll down to Message Filtering.
4. Toggle Filter Unknown Senders ON.

For Android (Google Messages) Users:

This protection is usually handled automatically, but you can confirm its status:

1. Open the Messages app.
2. Tap your Profile icon or the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top corner.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap Spam protection (or Chat features then Spam protection).
5. Ensure Enable spam protection is ON.

Your 3-Step Scam Prevention Action Plan

Changing a single setting is the fastest way to get secure, but true protection is layered.

1. Activate Silencing/Filtering: Turn on Silence Unknown Callers on your iPhone or Spam and Call Screen on your Android right now.
2. Filter Messages: Turn on Filter Unknown Senders in your Messages app to separate potential smishing texts.
3. Never Share the Code: Never, under any circumstance, provide a two-factor authentication or one-time password (OTP) code to anyone who calls or texts you. A real bank or company will never ask for this.

Your phone is an amazing tool—don’t let it be a vulnerability. By turning on this single, crucial setting, you are taking back control and making it exponentially harder for all types of phone-based scammers to reach you.