How to Stop Robocalls in 2026

Robocalls remain the number one phone complaint in America. While you can't eliminate them entirely, here's what actually works to reduce them dramatically.

STIR/SHAKEN: The Industry Solution

Since 2021, US carriers have been required to implement STIR/SHAKEN, a technology that verifies whether a call's caller ID has been spoofed. When a call passes verification, you'll see a checkmark or "Verified" label on your caller ID. Calls that fail verification are flagged or blocked by your carrier.

This has reduced some types of spoofing, but scammers have adapted by using legitimate VoIP services that pass STIR/SHAKEN checks.

Carrier-Level Protection (Free)

T-Mobile Scam Shield: Automatically enabled on all T-Mobile lines. Identifies and labels scam calls. Free tier blocks known scam numbers; paid tier ($4/mo) adds full caller ID and custom block lists.

AT&T ActiveArmor: Free automatic fraud blocking on all AT&T lines. Labels suspected spam. Premium tier ($3.99/mo) adds reverse number lookup and data breach alerts.

Verizon Call Filter: Free spam detection and blocking. Premium ($2.99/mo) adds spam risk meter, caller ID for unknown numbers, and personal block list.

Phone Settings

iPhone: "Silence Unknown Callers" (Settings > Phone) sends unknown numbers to voicemail. Enable "Live Voicemail" in iOS 17+ to see real-time transcriptions and pick up if it's legitimate.

Android: Google's Phone app has built-in spam screening. Enable "See caller & spam ID" and "Filter spam calls" in Phone settings. The "Screen call" feature uses Google Assistant to answer and question unknown callers.

Hardware Call Blockers (Best for Landlines)

If you have a landline, a dedicated call-blocking device is the single most effective tool. These devices sit between your phone line and your handset, blocking known scam numbers before your phone even rings. The CPR V100K comes preloaded with 100,000+ scam numbers and updates regularly.

The Nuclear Option: Only Allow Known Numbers

For maximum protection, set your phone to only allow calls from contacts. On iPhone, use a Focus mode that only permits calls from "All Contacts." On Android, use Do Not Disturb with exceptions for contacts only. All other calls go to voicemail silently. This stops 100% of spam but means legitimate unknown callers (doctor's office calling from a new number, for example) also go to voicemail.