Stopping robocalls on a flip phone: a guide.

Here's how to stop robocalls on a flip phone.

Tackling the issue of robocalls can be frustrating, regardless of the type of phone you use. If you prefer the simplicity of a flip phone, you may be wondering how to deal with this problem.

Donna contacted us with a straightforward inquiry: "Can flip phones be free of robocalls?"

If you prefer a flip phone over a smartphone, it may be more challenging to block spam calls, but it's not impossible.

How to deal with robocalls on a flip phone

Managing robocalls on a flip phone can be difficult, but there are steps you can take to reduce them. While it won't be as easy as blocking spam callers on a smartphone, with a little effort, you can enjoy a spam-free experience on your flip phone. Here are the steps you can follow:

If you're unsure about a number, let it go to voicemail; legitimate callers will leave a message.

Be careful about sharing your phone number to avoid being added to robocall lists.

The National Do Not Call Registry can help reduce legitimate telemarketing calls by registering your phone number online at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to be registered.

man with flip phone — Man looking at a flip phone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Check with your carrier (such as Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile) to see if they offer call-blocking services for flip phones. While many carriers do provide such features, availability may vary depending on the brand of flip phone and the carrier you use.

5. Flip phones with manual call blocking feature: You can block specific numbers manually on your flip phone. Refer to your phone's user manual for instructions. While this feature is common with all smartphones, many newer flip phones also have this option. However, you'll need to consult your instruction manual for details.

person holding flip phone — Flip phone (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

To aid authorities in combating robocalls, report unwanted calls to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Although this technique won't prevent robocalls from contacting your flip phone, it assists the FTC in locating and halting them. It's a valuable way to assist the FTC in combating robo-spam callers. To report a robocall to the FTC, follow these steps:

Go online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357.
To complete your report, you will require the robocaller's phone number and the specific date and time of the call.

FTC logo (Federal Trade Commission)

To minimize the chance of spammers and telemarketers contacting you, consider using a data removal service, as your phone number may be easily accessible on many lists sold by data brokers to numerous people search websites.

Having a data removal service can be beneficial if you want to consistently monitor and automate the process of removing your information from numerous websites over an extended period of time. Here are my top recommendations for data removal services.

Kurt's key takeaways

To reduce the annoyance of robocalls, especially for flip phone users, consider registering your number on the National Do Not Call List and avoid answering unknown numbers. Also, check with your carrier for any call-blocking services it may offer. Taking a few proactive steps can significantly decrease those pesky interruptions.

How do you typically handle robocalls, and what do you find most frustrating about them? Please share your thoughts with us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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