Answer unknown calls only if you recognize the number or have a reason to expect it
The safest default is not to answer. If someone calling you matters — your doctor's office, your bank, a delivery driver, a job interviewer — they will leave a voicemail or send a text. Answering a call from a number you do not recognize gives that caller confirmation that your number is active and monitored by a real person, which is exactly what spam and scam operations want to know.
The one exception is if you are genuinely expecting a call from an unknown number — you applied for a job and the hiring manager might call from their personal phone, or you scheduled a medical appointment and the clinic might call from a blocked number. In those cases, answering makes sense. In almost every other situation, letting it ring is the lower-risk choice.
Key Takeaways
- Answering an unknown call tells the caller your number is active and monitored, which makes your number more valuable to spam and scam operations.
- Legitimate callers — banks, doctors, employers — will leave a voicemail or send a text if they need to reach you.
- If you do answer and realize it is a scam, hang up when ready without confirming anything about yourself or your account.
- Returning a call to an unknown number that left no message is riskier than not answering in the first place.
- Your phone's call-blocking settings can automatically filter out many unknown numbers before they reach you.
What happens when you answer a spam or scam call
When you pick up, the caller learns three things: your number works, someone answers it, and you are willing to engage. Scammers and spam operations use this information to prioritize your number for future calls and to sell your number to other operations as a "live" lead. A single answer can result in weeks of increased call volume.
If you stay on the line and respond to questions — even just saying "yes" or "no" — scammers can record your voice and use it in future calls, or splice it into fake authorization recordings. The longer you stay on the call, the more information they gather about you, your account status, your location, or your willingness to trust them.
Hanging up when ready is the correct response if you realize mid-call that it is a scam. You do not owe the caller an explanation, and you do not need to stay on to "report" them — they already know what they are doing.
When it makes sense to answer
Answer if you are expecting a call and the number matches what you were given. Answer if you recognize the number from a previous conversation. Answer if you have a pending appointment, job interview, or delivery and the time frame matches when they said they would call.
You can also answer if your phone's caller ID shows the call is from a known business — your bank, your insurance company, your utility — though you should still be cautious. Scammers can spoof these numbers, so if the caller asks for your account number or password, hang up and call the official number on your bill or statement instead.
If you are unsure, let it go to voicemail. A real caller will leave a message with a callback number. If no message appears, the call was not important.
How to handle a call you should not have answered
If you answered and realize it is a scam, hang up. Do not stay on to argue, do not ask them to remove your number, and do not try to waste their time — these tactics do not work and only keep you on the line longer.
Do not confirm any information about yourself, your account, your address, or your family members. Do not press buttons or say "yes" to any question, even if it seems harmless. Do not give them a reason to call back.
After you hang up, you can block the number in your phone's settings. Most phones have a "Block this Caller" option in the call history. Blocking prevents that specific number from reaching you again, though scammers often call from different numbers.
Why not returning unknown voicemails is the right choice
If an unknown number left no voicemail, do not call it back. This is one of the oldest scam tactics: the caller leaves silence or a partial message, betting that you will call back out of curiosity. When you do, you reach a scammer who now knows your number is active and you are willing to engage.
If the call was important, the caller will leave a complete message with their name, their organization, and what they need. If they did not leave a message, they were not trying to reach you — they were testing whether your number is active.
The same rule applies to text messages from unknown numbers asking you to call back or click a link. Do not respond, do not click, and do not call the number in the message.
Using your phone's built-in call filtering
Most phones have settings that can filter unknown calls before they reach you. On iPhone, go to Settings, Phone, and turn on "Silence Unknown Callers" — this sends calls from numbers not in your contacts to voicemail. On Android, go to Settings, Phone, and turn on "Filter Unknown" or "Spam Protection" depending on your phone model.
These settings do not block the calls entirely — they still go to voicemail — but they prevent your phone from ringing and vibrating. You can check voicemail later and return calls that matter. This is the simplest way to reduce interruptions without missing important calls.
If you use a third-party call-blocking app, check its settings regularly to make sure it is still active. Some apps stop working after a phone update or when you change your phone number.
What to do if a scammer has your number
If you have already answered calls from scammers or given them information, do not panic. Answering one call does not mean you are permanently on a scam list, though you may see increased call volume for a few weeks.
Change your voicemail greeting to a generic message that does not confirm your name or any personal details. Scammers listen to voicemail greetings to confirm they have the right number and to gather information.
If a scammer has your account information or banking details, contact your bank or the relevant company directly using the number on your statement or bill. Do not use a number the scammer gave you. Report the call to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov if you lost money or gave up sensitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the caller says they are from my bank and my caller ID shows my bank's number?
Scammers can spoof bank numbers, so do not trust the caller ID alone. Hang up and call your bank using the number on your debit card or statement. Ask if they called you. If they did not, you just avoided a scam. If they did, they can transfer you to the right department.
Is it safe to say "yes" to a question on a spam call?
No. Scammers record "yes" answers and use them in fake authorization recordings or to claim you agreed to charges. Hang up instead of answering any questions.
Can I get my number removed from spam call lists?
Asking to be removed does not work and often confirms your number is active. The National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov) can reduce telemarketing calls, but it does not stop scammers. Blocking individual numbers and using your phone's call filter are more effective.
What should I do if I accidentally gave a scammer my Social Security number?
Contact the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov and consider placing a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). A fraud alert makes it harder for someone to open accounts in your name. You can also check your credit report for unauthorized accounts.
Why do scammers call if they are just going to hang up?
They are testing whether your number is active. If you answer, they know to call back later or sell your number to other scammers. If you do not answer, they move on to the next number.