The fastest way to stop telemarketer calls

Register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry, then block individual numbers as they call. The registry stops most legal telemarketers within 31 days — you register once and it stays active for life. For calls that keep coming anyway, use your phone's built-in block feature or a third-party app to silence them before they ring.

The registry works because telemarketers are required by law to check it before calling. Charities, political organizations, and surveys are exempt, so you may still hear from those groups even after registering. Scammers ignore the registry entirely, which is why blocking individual numbers matters too.

Key Takeaways

  • Register at donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to protect — registration is free and permanent.
  • Most legitimate telemarketing calls stop within 31 days, but charities and political calls are legal exceptions.
  • Use your phone's native block feature (available on iPhone, Android, and most carriers) to silence numbers that call repeatedly.
  • Third-party apps like Nomorobo, RoboKiller, and Truecaller filter calls before they reach you, though some charge a monthly fee.
  • Report numbers that call after 31 days to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov — enforcement actions come from complaint patterns, not single reports.

Registering with the National Do Not Call Registry

Go to donotcall.gov and enter your phone number, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to protect. The website takes about two minutes. The phone line is faster if you are calling from the number itself. You do not need to create an account or provide personal information beyond the phone number.

The registry covers landlines and cell phones equally. Registration lasts for life — you do not need to renew it. After 31 days, telemarketers are breaking the law if they call that number. The registry does not stop calls from charities, political organizations, surveys, or companies you have done business with in the past 18 months.

Keep your confirmation number if the website gives you one, though you do not need it to verify your registration later. You can check whether a number is registered by visiting donotcall.gov again and entering it.

Using your phone's built-in block feature

On iPhone: Open the Phone app, find the number in your recent calls or voicemail, swipe left on it, and tap Block This Caller. The number goes to a blocked list and calls from it will not ring or send notifications. You can unblock it later in Settings > Phone > Blocked Contacts.

On Android: Open the Phone app, long-press the number in your call history, and tap Block Number. Some Android phones call this feature "Block" or "Add to Reject List" depending on the manufacturer. Check your phone's settings under Phone or Call Settings if you cannot find it in the app itself.

Through your carrier: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and most regional carriers offer free or paid call-blocking tools. Verizon Call Filter, AT&T Call Protect, and T-Mobile Scam Shield are built into accounts at no extra cost for basic features. Log into your carrier's website or app to turn these on — they block known spam numbers before calls reach your phone.

Third-party call-blocking apps

Apps like Nomorobo, RoboKiller, and Truecaller filter calls before they ring and maintain databases of known telemarketer and scam numbers. Nomorobo is free for landlines and costs about $2 per month for cell phones. RoboKiller costs about $4 per month and uses artificial intelligence to identify spam patterns. Truecaller is free with ads or about $3 per month for an ad-free version.

These apps work by comparing incoming calls against their databases and blocking matches automatically. They also let you report numbers you receive, which feeds back into their databases. The trade-off is that you are giving the app access to your call history and contacts — read the privacy policy before installing.

Carrier-provided tools (Verizon Call Filter, AT&T Call Protect, T-Mobile Scam Shield) are usually sufficient if you do not want to install a third-party app. The main advantage of third-party apps is that they catch more aggressive spam patterns and let you customize blocking rules.

What to do about calls that keep coming after 31 days

If a number calls repeatedly after you have registered with the Do Not Call Registry, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC does not investigate single complaints, but it tracks patterns — when many people report the same number, enforcement actions follow.

Block the number on your phone while you wait. Do not call the number back or press buttons to "remove yourself from the list" — that confirms your number is active and may increase calls. Scammers use these callbacks to verify working numbers and sell them to other scammers.

If the calls are from a company you recognize, you can also contact them directly and ask to be removed from their list. Legitimate companies will honor the request within 30 days. If they do not, report them to the FTC.

Understanding what the Do Not Call Registry does and does not cover

The registry stops calls from telemarketers selling products or services. It does not stop calls from charities, political organizations, surveys, or debt collectors. It also does not stop calls from companies you have done business with in the past 18 months — they can call even if you are registered.

Scammers and spoofed numbers ignore the registry entirely because they are already breaking the law. The registry is a tool for stopping legal telemarketing, not for stopping fraud. If you are getting calls claiming to be from your bank, the IRS, or a utility company, those are almost always scams regardless of the registry.

Some telemarketers claim they are calling on behalf of a charity or political organization to get around the registry rules. If you do not recognize the organization, you can ask for their name and hang up, then search for their actual phone number online to verify the call was real.

Blocking calls from specific types of senders

If you are getting repeated calls from charities or political organizations, you can ask to be removed from their list when they call. Most will honor the request, though they are not legally required to. Get the organization's name and look up their main number to request removal in writing — this creates a record if they keep calling.

Debt collectors are required to honor a written request to stop calling. Send a letter to the collection agency saying you are requesting that they cease contact. Keep a copy for your records. They can still contact you once more to confirm they received the request, but after that they must stop calling unless they are suing you.

Calls from companies you have done business with recently (within 18 months) are legal even if you are registered. Contact the company directly and ask to be removed from their calling list. If they keep calling, report them to the FTC — they may be violating other rules even if the Do Not Call Registry does not explore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay to register with the Do Not Call Registry?

No. Registration at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222 is completely free. Any website charging a fee to register you is a scam. The official registry has no ads and does not sell your information.

How long does it take for telemarketer calls to stop after I register?

Most telemarketers stop calling within 31 days. Some may take the full 31 days to update their lists. If calls continue after that, block the number and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Can I block calls from my bank or credit card company?

Yes, you can block any number. However, if the call is actually from your bank, you will miss important alerts. If you are getting repeated calls claiming to be from your bank, those are almost certainly scams — do not call the number back or provide information. Contact your bank directly using the number on your card instead.

Will blocking a number stop text messages from that sender?

On iPhone, blocking a number stops both calls and text messages. On Android, blocking a number stops calls but may not stop texts — check your messaging app's settings for a separate spam filter or block feature for SMS.

What should I do if I get a call from a spoofed number that looks like my own phone number?

Spoofed calls use fake caller ID information and are almost always scams. Do not answer or call back. Block the number and report it to the FTC. Your phone company cannot stop spoofing entirely, but your carrier's spam filter may catch some spoofed calls before they reach you.