Protect Yourself From Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts
Learn how to recognize, block, and report spam calls, scam emails, and fake text messages before they cost you money.
Unwanted calls, emails, and text messages are more than just a nuisance. They often come from scammers trying to steal your money or personal information. This guide explains how to recognize common tactics, use built-in tools to block them, and report bad actors so you can help stop them for everyone.
Why You Get So Many Unwanted Messages
Advances in technology have made it cheap and easy for scammers and aggressive marketers to contact millions of people at once. Internet-based calling lets them disguise their phone numbers (spoofing), and automated systems can blast out emails and texts in seconds.
Even if you never respond, the sheer volume can feel overwhelming. But you are not powerless: U.S. law restricts many of these practices, and tools from your phone, email provider, and the government can reduce how often they reach you.
Common Types of Unwanted Contact
Understanding the different kinds of unwanted calls, emails, and texts helps you decide how to respond and when to report a problem.
1. Robocalls and Telemarketing Calls
A robocall is a phone call that plays a prerecorded or artificial voice instead of connecting you to a live person.
- Legal robocalls might include school closing alerts, flight updates, pharmacy reminders, or messages from your bank about possible fraud.
- Illegal robocalls typically promote products, extended warranties, investments, or fake debt relief without your written consent.
Telemarketing calls from live agents are allowed only if they follow specific rules, like honoring the National Do Not Call Registry and telling you who is calling.
2. Spam and Phishing Emails
Unwanted emails range from harmless marketing messages to sophisticated scams:
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- Legitimate marketing emails from companies you do business with that you can usually unsubscribe from.
- Spam emails that clutter your inbox with unwanted ads.
- Phishing emails that pretend to be from banks, retailers, government agencies, or package shippers to trick you into revealing passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers.
Phishing emails may send you to fake websites designed to capture your login details or install malware on your device.
3. Scam and Spam Text Messages
Scam text messages often look like urgent alerts from companies or government agencies. They may:
- Claim there is a problem with a delivery, your bank account, or a government benefit.
- Promise a prize, refund, or gift card if you click a link.
- Impersonate a familiar service, like a streaming platform or mobile carrier.
The link might send you to a spoofed website or attempt to install malicious software on your phone.
Red Flags That Signal a Scam
Many scams share similar warning signs, no matter whether they arrive by call, email, or text. Learning these signals helps you react quickly.
| Red Flag | What It Looks Like | Why It’s Dangerous |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent pressure | “Act now or your account will be closed” | Tries to bypass your normal caution |
| Requests for personal data | Asks for passwords, PINs, SSN, or full card numbers | Information can be used for identity theft |
| Unusual payment methods | Demands payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency | Hard or impossible to reverse or trace |
| Suspicious links or attachments | Links that look slightly misspelled or unexpected files | May install malware or send you to fake sites |
| Impersonation of officials | Claims to be from the IRS, Social Security, or police | Exploits fear to grab money or data |
How to Reduce Unwanted Phone Calls
No tool can block every unwanted call, but combining several strategies can dramatically cut down the number you receive.
Use Call-Blocking and Call-Labeling Tools
- On smartphones: Most phones let you block individual numbers and silence unknown callers. Check your device’s settings for call filtering options.
- Through your phone company: Major carriers offer free or low-cost tools that screen suspected scam calls, label them as “Spam likely,” or send them straight to voicemail.
- Third-party apps: Reputable call-blocking apps use large databases of known scam numbers to block or warn about calls. Review privacy policies and ratings before installing.
Register With the National Do Not Call Registry
In the United States, you can list your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry, which limits most sales calls from legitimate telemarketers.
- Registration is free.
- It does not stop calls from scammers, political organizations, charities, debt collectors, or surveys.
- After your number has been on the list for 31 days, unwanted sales calls from real companies may violate federal rules.
If you still get sales calls after registering, it is a strong sign the caller may be ignoring the law or could be a scammer.
Best Practices When You Receive a Suspicious Call
- Let unknown numbers go to voicemail, especially if you do not recognize the area code.
- Do not press numbers or say “yes” to “confirm” anything; this can lead to more calls.
- Hang up on threats about arrest, deportation, or immediate legal action. Legitimate agencies do not operate that way.
- If a call might be real (for example, from your bank), hang up and dial the number on your statement or the official website—not the number that called you.
How to Handle Spam and Phishing Emails
Modern email services include powerful filters, but a few dangerous messages will still slip through. A careful routine can protect you from costly mistakes.
Use Built-In Email Protections
- Mark messages as spam: Use your email service’s “Report spam” or “Junk” button so future similar emails are filtered automatically.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA): Requiring a second step—such as a code texted to your phone—makes it much harder for scammers to log in even if they steal your password.
- Keep software updated: Updates often include security patches that protect you from known email-based attacks.
When It’s Safe to Unsubscribe—and When It Isn’t
- Safe to unsubscribe: Emails from businesses you recognize and have dealt with, such as online stores where you made a purchase.
- Risky to unsubscribe: Messages you never signed up for, especially those with poor grammar, unfamiliar senders, or pressure tactics. Clicking “unsubscribe” in a scam message can confirm that your email address is active, leading to more spam.
Protecting Yourself From Phishing Attacks
Before you click any link or open an attachment, take a moment to verify:
- Hover over links to see the real web address and watch for small spelling changes.
- Look at the sender’s full email address, not just the display name.
- Treat unexpected attachments or invoices with extra suspicion—even if they appear to be from someone you know.
- When in doubt, contact the company using a phone number or website you know is accurate, rather than responding to the email.
How to Deal With Scam and Spam Text Messages
Text messages can feel more personal and therefore more convincing. However, many of the same rules that apply to email and calls also apply to texts.
Key Safety Rules for Text Messages
- Do not click unexpected links: Even short links can lead to malicious websites or downloads.
- Never reply to suspicious texts: Responding, even with words like “STOP,” can confirm your number is active to scammers unless you know the sender is legitimate.
- Avoid sharing personal or financial information: Real companies do not ask for account numbers, Social Security numbers, or one-time authentication codes through unsolicited texts.
Using Tools to Filter and Block Texts
- Phone settings: Many smartphones let you filter messages from unknown senders or block specific numbers entirely.
- Wireless carrier tools: Carriers may provide free or paid services that block or flag suspected spam texts.
- Call- and text-blocking apps: Some apps work across calls and texts, letting you report and block suspicious numbers from a single interface.
How and Where to Report Unwanted Contacts
Reporting scams not only helps you; it also gives regulators and service providers information they can use to shut down operations and warn others.
Reporting Phone Calls and Texts
- Report fraud attempts, unwanted robocalls, and telemarketing violations to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through its online reporting tool.
- Forward unwanted text messages to 7726 (SPAM), a number used by many mobile carriers to analyze and block spam traffic.
- File complaints about scam calls, texts, and telemarketers through USA.gov resources, which route you to the appropriate agencies.
Reporting Emails
- Use your email provider’s “Report phishing” or “Report spam” feature to improve filtering.
- If an email impersonates a real business or government agency, look for instructions on their official website—many have dedicated addresses to report phishing.
Practical Everyday Safety Checklist
Use this quick checklist to build safer habits around calls, emails, and texts:
- Let unknown phone numbers go to voicemail and call back using official contact details if needed.
- Enable call-blocking tools from your carrier or a reputable app.
- Register your number with the National Do Not Call Registry to cut down on legitimate sales calls.
- Turn on spam filters in your email account and regularly mark unwanted messages as junk.
- Never send account numbers, passwords, or one-time codes by email or text.
- Ignore links in unexpected messages about deliveries, refunds, or account problems and verify through official channels instead.
- Create strong, unique passwords and add multi-factor authentication where available.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Why am I still getting scam calls after joining the Do Not Call Registry?
The National Do Not Call Registry only applies to most sales calls from legitimate telemarketers. Scammers and certain types of callers—like political campaigns, charities, and debt collectors—are not covered and often ignore the rules altogether. That is why call-blocking tools and careful habits are still essential.
Q2: Is it safer to ignore all unknown numbers?
Many people choose to let unknown calls go to voicemail. This approach can reduce your exposure to scams, since legitimate callers can leave a message and you can return the call using an official number if it matters. However, you should review voicemails promptly in case of genuine issues.
Q3: What should I do if I clicked a link in a suspicious email or text?
If you clicked a questionable link, immediately close the page, run a security scan with up-to-date antivirus software, and change any passwords you may have entered. If the message claimed to be from your bank, card issuer, or another company, contact them directly using a trusted phone number and watch your accounts for unusual activity.
Q4: Can I trust text messages about packages or deliveries?
Delivery scam texts are common and often include fake tracking updates or claims about unpaid fees. Instead of clicking links in those messages, go directly to the delivery company’s official website or app and enter any tracking number you already know, or contact customer service through verified channels.
Q5: Where can I learn more about current scams?
The Federal Trade Commission regularly publishes consumer alerts, scam spotlights, and practical guidance about emerging fraud trends on its official website. Checking those resources can help you recognize new tactics before they reach you.
References
- How to Stop Unwanted Calls — Federal Trade Commission. 2023-09-25. https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-stop-unwanted-calls
- How to Recognize and Report Spam Text Messages — Federal Trade Commission. 2023-09-25. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-recognize-report-spam-text-messages
- Unwanted Emails, Texts, and Mail — Federal Trade Commission. 2023-09-25. https://consumer.ftc.gov/unwanted-calls-emails-and-texts/unwanted-emails-texts-and-mail
- Unwanted Calls — Federal Trade Commission. 2023-09-25. https://consumer.ftc.gov/unwanted-calls-emails-and-texts/unwanted-calls
- Complain about phone and text scams, robocalls, and telemarketers — USA.gov. 2025-11-13. https://www.usa.gov/telemarketer-scam-call-complaints
- Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts — Federal Trade Commission. 2023-09-25. https://consumer.ftc.gov/unwanted-calls-emails-texts
- National Do Not Call Registry FAQs — Federal Trade Commission. 2020-03-04. https://www.donotcall.gov/faq.html
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