Almost everyone has experienced an unexpected call or text from an unknown number. While some turn out to be harmless misdials, many are actually spam or phishing attempts aimed at stealing personal or financial information. In some cases, the scam is obvious—like a caller asking for banking or credit card details—but other times, it’s much harder to tell.

To combat this, tech giants like Apple and Google allow users to mark suspicious calls or texts as spam or junk. Once flagged, your mobile carrier, the device manufacturer, third-party databases, and sometimes even federal bodies like the FCC and FTC, are notified.

On the network side, reported numbers are added to a centralized spam database. That’s why some calls appear on your screen labeled “Spam Likely.” It means that enough users have flagged the number, prompting your carrier to take preventive action. Essentially, every report you make contributes to a safer network for all users.

Modern carriers also use AI and machine learning to detect and block spam activity. For example, Google’s AI-based scam detection system becomes smarter and more accurate the more users report suspicious calls and messages.

Third-party apps like Truecaller, RoboKiller, and Hiya also rely on user reports to strengthen their own spam-blocking databases. This collective effort creates a ripple effect—when users flag spam, these systems improve their ability to identify and prevent future scams.

Unfortunately, scammers are evolving too. One of their most common tricks is “neighbor spoofing,” where they disguise their number to look like a local one. This creates a false sense of trust (“It’s a call from my area, it must be legitimate”). Fraudsters may even impersonate government bodies or organizations like the IRS or local police to extract personal data.

If you’re uncertain about the legitimacy of a call or text, the safest move is to hang up and contact the organization directly using verified contact details. Chances are, they’ll confirm it was a scam attempt.

To stay protected, you can also use your phone’s in-built spam filters:

• For iPhone users: Go to Settings > Messages > Message Filtering > Unknown & Spam > Filter Unknown Senders. To block a number, tap the info icon next to it and select Block Contact, or long-press a spam text and block it directly.

• For Android users: Open Google Messages > Settings > Spam Protection > Enable Spam Protection. To block, open Phone > More > Call history, choose the number, and tap Block/Report Spam. You can also block a number directly from your text messages by long-pressing the conversation.

Additionally, you can report spam directly to your mobile carrier by forwarding the suspicious message to 7726 (SPAM). If you believe you’ve encountered fraudulent activity, you can file a report with both the FTC and FCC for further investigation.

By consistently reporting spam, users help improve detection tools, reduce fraud, and make communication networks safer for everyone.