Fed Up with Credit Card, Loan, and Fraudulent Calls?
Waking up to a barrage of calls – “Sir, do you want a pre-approved personal loan?”, “Ma’am, get a credit card today,” or “Your electricity bill is pending, your connection will be cut tonight.” What was once an occasional nuisance has become a daily ordeal, with 10-15 spam calls being the norm. The real challenge? These aren’t even human anymore; they’re AI voice bots, making it impossible to even vent your frustration.
These incessant calls and messages often lead us to miss crucial bank OTPs or important calls from family. Worse still, many unsuspecting individuals fall prey to these scams, losing their hard-earned money. These scammers have turned our privacy into a mockery.
The Bitter Truth About Third-Party Caller ID Apps (like Truecaller)
When it comes to avoiding spam calls, most people immediately download a ‘caller ID app’ from the Play Store. While these apps might flag numbers as ‘Spam’ in red, are you aware of the price you pay – your personal data? These apps collect your entire contact list, message history, and call logs, storing them on their servers.
Essentially, the very problem (data leakage) you sought to avoid, these apps exacerbate. Therefore, instead of relying on external apps, we should leverage the genuine security features provided by telecom companies and our smartphones.
The Government’s Surefire Solution: Activate TRAI DND (Do Not Disturb)
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced the ‘DND’ (Do Not Disturb) service to protect citizens from unsolicited calls. Activating it is free and straightforward, working for all SIM providers like Jio, Airtel, Vi, and BSNL.
- Via SMS: Open your phone’s messaging app. Type START 0 (in capital letters) and send it to 1909. This activates Full DND, blocking all promotional calls related to banking, loans, and property.
- Via Call: If you prefer not to send an SMS, dial 1909 from your phone’s dialer and follow the IVR prompts to activate the Full DND service.
It may take 24 to 48 hours for DND to be fully active. Importantly, DND does not block essential calls like bank OTPs, delivery notifications from Swiggy/Zomato, or calls from cab drivers. It specifically targets telemarketing companies.
Block Spam Using Your Smartphone’s In-built Settings (Android and iPhone)
Even after activating DND, persistent telemarketers and international scammers may still try to reach you using new numbers (like unusual +92 or +84 prefixes). To combat this, you don’t need any external apps. Your phone has a robust ‘shield’ built-in; you just need to enable it.
Enable Spam Filter on Android (Google Dialer)
Most Android smartphones (like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, Motorola) now come with the ‘Google Phone’ app (the blue dialer) as the default calling application. This app is, in itself, an advanced and secure caller ID system.
- First, open your phone’s dialer app.
- Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner and select ‘Settings’.
- Look for the ‘Caller ID and Spam’ option and tap on it.
- Now, turn on both ‘See caller and spam ID’ and ‘Filter spam calls’.
Once enabled, Google’s AI will use its global database to block suspected spam calls in the background, preventing them from ringing your phone.
‘Silence Unknown Callers’ for iPhone (iOS) Users
Apple prioritizes privacy. iPhones offer a direct in-built feature to combat spam. Go to ‘Settings’, then tap on the ‘Phone’ section. Scroll down and enable ‘Silence Unknown Callers’.
This will silence calls from numbers not saved in your contacts, sending them directly to voicemail or your ‘Recents’ list. This ensures your focus remains uninterrupted during meetings or relaxation.
Airtel, Jio, and Vi’s ‘Anti-Spam’ Network Features
If you prefer not to tweak settings, your own SIM provider offers free anti-spam protection. Major Indian telecom operators have implemented ‘network-level’ spam blocking.
For Airtel users, download the ‘Airtel Thanks’ app. It features a ‘Call Manager’ or ‘Spam Block’ option that filters fraudulent calls at the network level. Similarly, Jio users can customize their DND preferences within the ‘MyJio’ app settings, allowing them to permanently block specific categories like real estate or education calls.
How to Stop Fraudulent Messages on WhatsApp and SMS?
Nowadays, WhatsApp messages offering “part-time jobs,” “work from home,” or “KBC lottery” scams are more dangerous than calls. If you receive such enticing messages from unknown international numbers on WhatsApp, never reply or click any links. Long-press the message, tap the three dots, and select ‘Report and Block’.
For regular SMS, always use the ‘Google Messages’ app. Its settings include ‘Spam protection,’ which detects fake bank links and phishing messages, moving them to the ‘Spam & Blocked’ folder before they reach your main inbox.
TRAI’s Official Weapon: DND 3.0 App
If a persistent telemarketing company continues to bother you despite activating DND, you can lodge a complaint directly with the telecom regulator. The Indian government’s TRAI has launched the ‘DND 3.0’ app for this purpose.
This app allows you to file a complaint against any spam call or fraudulent message in seconds. When multiple users report the same number through this app, TRAI takes action, blacklisting the number permanently and imposing hefty fines on the company.
Beware of Telegram and Social Media Scams
Beyond calls and WhatsApp, Telegram is rife with “complete tasks and earn money” scams. These fraudsters initially lure you with ₹150-200 for liking YouTube videos, only to extort large sums later. To avoid these unknown individuals, go to your Telegram settings’ ‘Privacy and Security’ and set ‘Groups and Channels’ to “My Contacts.” This prevents scammers from adding you to unsolicited crypto or investment groups.
💡 Vivek Bhai’s Advice
Folks, here’s a crucial tip most tech experts won’t tell you. If you receive a spam or robotic (IVR) call, disconnect it immediately. Never engage with scammers out of boredom or a desire to abuse them. These scammers use advanced software to simply check if a number is ‘Active’. Engaging in conversation or pressing buttons (like ‘press 1 to continue’) marks your number as “Highly Active.” This number is then sold on the Dark Web to more fraudulent companies at a premium, leading to an even greater influx of spam calls. The wisest course of action is to hang up silently, report the number, and block it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Will DND service block bank OTPs?
Absolutely not. This is a common misconception. TRAI’s DND service only blocks promotional calls and messages. Your bank OTPs, transaction alerts, Aadhaar OTPs, and calls from delivery personnel (Swiggy/Zomato/Amazon) will continue to arrive as usual.
2. What should I do if ‘Spam Risk’ or ‘Suspected Spam’ appears on my screen?
If your phone screen displays such a warning during an incoming call (common with Android’s Google Dialer), do not answer it under any circumstances. This is an alert from Google’s global database, indicating that thousands of users have already flagged this number as fraudulent. Ignore it and block the number later.
3. Can international numbers (like +92 or +234) be permanently blocked?
Yes. WhatsApp scams frequently originate from these numbers. Go to your WhatsApp settings, navigate to ‘Privacy’, click on ‘Calls’, and enable ‘Silence Unknown Callers’. This will prevent any unknown international number from ringing your WhatsApp.
So, friends, fortify your smartphone with these settings to ensure no unwanted scammer disrupts your peace. Protecting your digital privacy and hard-earned money is in your hands. Implement the tricks mentioned in this article now, and 99% of your spam call issues will be resolved today. New types of fraud emerge daily online; staying a step ahead is crucial. Keep visiting vhoriginal.com for such secret hacks, security tips, and useful information to stay updated. See you in the next insightful article!
