Your phone rings at the worst possible moment, you see a number you don't recognize, and when you answer, you're hit with an unsolicited sales pitch. Even today, spam calls They're still a nuisance for thousands of people in Spain, despite legal changes and the tools that Android and iPhone already incorporate to stop them.
The good news is that there are native functions and specific settings that, when combined properly, They drastically reduce intrusionIn addition, there are legal measures, exclusion lists, and apps that add an extra layer of protection. However, it's important to understand that no method is foolproof: cybercriminals use impersonation and changing numbersTherefore, the key is to apply several strategies at once.
Why do they keep calling you even though there's a law?
Since June 2023, the General Telecommunications Law (Law 11/2022) has been in force in Spain, which prohibits commercial calls without express consentThis means that if you have not authorized them to contact you, a company should not call you to sell you anything, and they risk penalties if they do.
In addition to requiring consent, certain areas have been defined: They cannot call before 9:00 or after 21:00and the practice is limited to weekdays. There are even sector-specific ethical codes that further restrict the hours (for example, from 10:00 to 15:00 and from 16:00 to 21:00). If they call you outside of those time slots or on holidays, be suspicious, especially if the call comes from a hidden or foreign number.
So why do we keep receiving so many calls? Because there's a wide range between commercial trickery and fraud: aggressive offers, surveys, fake promotions, or impersonation attempts from known entities. In addition, there is the use of spoofing techniques, with which a scammer can make it seem as if a legitimate number, or even one similar to that of a contact, is calling you.
To reduce that pressure, you can rely on exclusion mechanisms such as Robinson ListIt's a free service where you register with your information (ID number, name, surname, and email) and choose the channels where you don't want to receive advertising (phone, email, etc.). Companies are required to consult this information before contacting you. unless there is a valid consent form that you have expressly given to a specific company.
If a brand insists on calling you without your permission or violates your business hours, consider escalating the matter to the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD). consumer associations (for example, FACUA)Excessive insistence can constitute harassment, and if the situation gets out of handYou can even report it to the police. The most effective approach, in any case, is to combine legal action with phone filters.
The trick to forgetting about spam: mobile filters and settings
On Android, the most powerful weapon is in the Google Phone appwhich you can download from the Play Store if it wasn't already installed. Within Settings, you'll find the 'Caller ID and Spam' section, where you can activate two key options: 'View caller ID and spam call ID' and 'Filter spam calls'With this, the system will alert you when it detects a suspicious call and will be able to filter it automatically.
Please note that, for Google's protection to work, The phone sends information about your calls. (unknown numbers you interact with) are sent to their systems to analyze whether they are spam. They don't access your personal address book, and you can disable this feature if you prefer, but its effectiveness depends on this shared verification.
If you have a Pixel, the automatic 'Call Filter' offers additional protection. On recent models (Pixel 6 and later), this layer is equivalent to a permanent basic protectionOn Pixel 5 and earlier, this is similar to the 'Reject calls silently' feature for spam categories. You can check your active level in the Phone app settings.
Another app feature that might be useful is 'Caller ID ads': if you activate it, You will hear the name or number spoken aloud from who's calling. Additionally, whenever you receive a call that appears suspicious, you can block it and mark it as spam to strengthen the collective filter.
Has a legitimate call been flagged as spam? In your call history, you have the 'Not spam' option which you can use to check. report false positivesSimilarly, from the call log you can provide comments to verify or share the caller's identity, including the business category. This information helps other users to decide whether to answer or not.
There are two native iPhone features that the National Police have recently brought to light. On the one hand, you can activate 'Request reason for call,' so that when you receive a call from a number not in your contacts, The person must state their name and reason.The iPhone transcribes that message so you can decide whether to answer or not. Alternatively, there's 'Silence Unknown Callers,' which sends calls from blocked or unsaved numbers directly to voicemail. without the terminal ringing.
In addition, iOS allows you to manually block any number by tapping the 'i' in the recent call icon. This one-off blocking is useful for building your own blacklist, although you should be aware that Many campaigns rotate numbers And it's common for them to try again from a different number.
One point worth clarifying: you'll sometimes see advice online to disable 'Show Caller ID' on your phone to avoid spam. Be careful with that, because That option only affects your outgoing calls. (to hide your number when you make calls). It doesn't prevent you from receiving marketing calls, nor does it filter anything you receive.
As a final bonus on iPhone, if you have real-time voicemail transcription, You will be able to read what the caller is trying to tell you Without picking up the phone. It's an additional way to filter without having to answer, very practical when you're in a hurry or in a meeting.
Other tactics that really work
There's a curious trick that some users employ with automatic dialing systems: do not hang up immediatelyIf you leave the call unattended for a few seconds, some systems will mark the call as unsuccessful, which can reduce the likelihood of them calling again. It doesn't always work, but in large-scale campaigns it can be a useful complementary measure.
Before returning a suspicious missed call, search the number online. There are forums and directories where other users share whether it's spam or a scam. Spending 10 seconds on that check can be very helpful. to save yourself a headacheespecially when the number is international or doesn't match your activity.
If you prefer to automate as much as possible, specialized apps do a great job: Truecaller, Hiya, Mr. Number or RoboKillerThe first two stand out for their collaborative databases, updated daily; RoboKiller, in addition to blocking, plays automated responses to complicate the life of spam operators, turning the call into a waste of time for them.
On Android, in addition to the Google Phone app, you can install filters like 'Calls Blacklist'to combine call and SMS protection. On iOS, you have options like 'Call Blocker' or 'Blacklist: Caller ID & Blocker' with similar features. It's a good idea to choose just one main app. and avoid duplications that may interfere with each other.
Remember to reinforce the basic safety rules: Never give out personal or banking information Be wary of anyone who calls you unsolicited; if someone claims to be from your bank, hang up and call the official line; be suspicious of urgent promotions and prizes; and, if the conversation makes you uncomfortable, end the call politely but without hesitation.
Finally, on both Android and iPhone, you can mark any call as 'spam' or 'unwanted' from the call history. In practice, this gesture trains the filters and speeds up the blocking of future attempts from that numbering, and on Android it contributes to Google's detection network.
Fixed and directories: cut the problem at the root
If the bombardment reaches your landline, talk to your operator to activate a blocking spam callsIn many cases, there's a blacklist feature associated with the line (some with a cost). Once enabled, on certain services, you can block the line by dialing *60 followed by the target number; the caller will hear a message indicating that the line is unavailable to them.
Another important area is telephone directories. Ask your operator. the exclusion of your number and address from public directories. By reducing your exposure in these listings, you make it harder for outside companies and third parties to obtain your data for commercial use without your permission.
And don't forget online safety: every time you register on a website, check the legal boxes and avoid giving consent for them to share your phone number with third parties. The less of a footprint you leave In forms and raffles, the volume of advertising calls will be lower in the future.
When and how to complain (and get them to listen)
If, despite everything, they continue to call you repeatedly without your consent, document the calls (date, time, number, company, reason) and file a complaint. The most effective way is usually through [the relevant department/company]. AEPD, which can impose sanctions to companies that fail to comply with data protection and commercial communications regulations.
Before that, it's advisable that you have registered on the Robinson List and that a reasonable amount of time has passed so that Companies update their databases (The recommendation is usually a few weeks). Keep receipts and screenshots that prove your registration and the contact attempts you are receiving.
If you receive calls during prohibited hours, if they persist from multiple numbers, or if you suspect there is a component of fraud For identity theft or impersonation, file a police report. And for conflicts with well-known brands, consider mediation through consumer organizations; in many cases, a simple complaint is enough to stop them from bothering you.
The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) also recommends good practices: register on the Robinson List; use the options offered by companies to stop receiving communications; exercise your ARCO rights (access, rectification, cancellation, objection); and, if nothing works, file a formal complaint. Combining legal pressure with the mobile phone's technical filters yields the best results.
One last piece of advice: even with filters and laws, maintain a healthy dose of skepticism. These days, there are campaigns that use local numbers or They pretend to be a contact to bypass your defenses. If something doesn't seem right, let the voicemail or transcript do its job and calmly decide whether to return the call.
None of the above completely eliminates unwanted calls, but it does reduce them to a very manageable level: by activating the Google Phone filter on Android, using 'Ask for reason for call' and 'Mute unknown numbers' on iPhone, training the blocking features, registering on the Robinson List, and using... reliable apps for identificationYou will go from several interruptions a day to encountering only isolated and increasingly obvious cases.
