In September, we made spam protection free across all three US Mobile networks and asked you to help us test it in the real world. Hundreds of you did, and the feedback was honest and useful. Thank you.
The big takeaway: spam is a layered problem, and no single tool solves all of it. How well carrier-level protection works can depend on your network, your phone and even your area code, and it works best alongside the spam features already built into your iPhone or Android.
There are two carrier-level features. Spam Detect lets suspected spam ring but adds a label, so you decide whether to answer. Spam Block stops suspected spam from ringing at all. Neither covers every situation, so here's a practical guide to what else you can turn on, and how it all works together.
How spam protection works in layers
- Layer 1, the carrier. Spam Detect flags suspected spam, robocalls and fraud in caller ID, so the call still rings but with a label and you decide whether to answer. Spam Block, available on Light Speed, stops suspected spam before it rings. Dark Star includes Spam Detect for free. On Warp and Light Speed it's a $2/month add-on.
- Layer 2, your phone. Your phone's built-in screening, silencing and filtering decide what rings and what goes to voicemail.
- Layer 3, you. Blocking, reporting and a few good habits stop spam at the source and keep it from coming back.
You don't need every layer. Pick the combination that fits how you use your phone.
| Carrier protection (Spam Detect / Spam Block) | Your phone's built-in features | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | On the network, before the call reaches your phone | On your phone, once the call arrives |
| What it does | Detect labels suspected spam in caller ID. Block (Light Speed) stops suspected spam from ringing | Screens or silences unknown callers, sends them to voicemail, transcribes calls, filters texts |
| Works on | Any phone on the line | Depends on your phone and OS version |
| Best for | Knowing at a glance who's calling, or keeping known spam from ringing | Deciding what rings, screening unknown callers, and handling texts |
Now that you know how the layers fit together, here are 8 ways to protect yourself from spam calls and texts, starting with one of the easiest.
1. Get a second number with multi-network
US Mobile's multi-network feature gives your line a second network. What many people don't realize is that it gives you a second number too, which makes it one of the easiest privacy tools you have.
- Use the second number for sign-ups, forms, polls, loyalty programs and anything else where you'd rather not hand out your main number.
- Calls and texts that come to it are most likely spam, so your main number stays quieter.
- Keep your main number for the people who matter, like family, friends, your doctor and your bank.
2. Screen or silence unknown callers (iPhone)
On iPhone you can send calls from numbers that aren't in your contacts straight to voicemail, or have your phone ask the caller why they're calling before it rings.
- Go to Settings > Phone and choose Screen Unknown Callers (called Silence Unknown Callers on older versions of iOS).
- Choose Ask Reason for Calling to have your iPhone screen the call first, or Silence to send unknown callers to voicemail.
- Turn on Live Voicemail (iOS 17 or later) under Settings > Phone to see a live transcript while a caller leaves a message. You can pick up if it's someone you want to talk to.
- Add businesses you're expecting to hear from, like a doctor's office or delivery service, to your contacts so their calls aren't silenced.
Trade-off: a legitimate caller who isn't in your contacts will go to voicemail, so check it from time to time.
3. Use Call Screen and spam ID (Android)
- Google Pixel. Open the Phone app > Settings and turn on Caller ID & spam. Call Screen can answer unknown calls for you and show a transcript of what the caller says before you decide to pick up.
- Samsung Galaxy. Open the Phone app, tap the three dots > Settings, and turn on Caller ID and spam protection (Smart Call).
Combined with carrier protection, these give you two checks on every unknown call: the network's and your phone's.
4. Go contacts-only when you need quiet
For the strictest option, use Focus or Do Not Disturb to allow calls only from your contacts. It's a good fit for work hours, sleep, or anyone who rarely takes calls from strangers.
5. Block and report spam calls
Every number you block and report helps your phone, and the networks behind it, recognize the same spam later.
- iPhone: open the Phone app, tap Recents, tap the info icon next to the number, and choose Block this Caller.
- Android: open the Phone app, touch and hold the number in your recent calls, and choose Block or Report spam.
Spammers often rotate numbers, so blocking won't catch everything. It works best alongside the screening options above.
6. Filter spam texts
Spam texts are handled separately from calls. A few steps help:
- iPhone: go to Settings > Messages and turn on Filter Unknown Senders. Android: Google Messages has spam protection in its settings.
- Block and report junk messages from within the Messages app.
- Forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM). Your carrier can then see the sending numbers and patterns, which helps block the same campaign for other customers.
- Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
7. Protect your number
- Don't engage. Avoid answering or replying to unknown numbers. A response can signal that your number is active.
- Share it thoughtfully. Be careful where you enter your number, including sign-up forms, polls and petitions, especially during election season.
- Expect a bumpy start after switching. When a number moves to a new carrier, it can briefly look new to spam systems, so you may see more spam for the first few weeks. The tools above are most useful during that window, and it usually settles down.
8. Know what each tool can and can't do
- Spam Detect labels suspected spam, so the call still rings and you decide. Spam Block keeps it from ringing, so check your voicemail now and then in case a real call was caught.
- Screening and silencing change whether your phone rings, and can also affect real calls from numbers you haven't saved.
- Spoofed and rotating numbers get through every filter now and then.
- The Do Not Call registry only stops legitimate telemarketers. It doesn't stop scammers.
- Third-party apps such as Hiya, Truecaller and Nomorobo add their own caller ID and blocking. They're worth a look, though features and pricing vary and some need a subscription.
Where carrier spam protection fits
Spam Detect and Spam Block work at the carrier level, before the call reaches your phone. Detect flags suspected spam in caller ID so you can tell at a glance whether to answer. Block, on Light Speed, keeps known spam from ringing at all. Both work alongside the phone features above, not instead of them. On Light Speed you can choose between them depending on whether you'd rather see labeled calls or not be interrupted. A common setup: carrier protection for caller ID or blocking, call screening on your phone, and filtering turned on for texts.
Quick-start checklist
- Use your multi-network second number for sign-ups and forms.
- Turn on call screening or silencing on your phone (iPhone or Android).
- Turn on unknown-sender filtering for texts.
- Add important businesses and contacts so real calls get through.
- Block and report spam calls, and forward spam texts to 7726.
- Consider Spam Detect (or Spam Block on Light Speed) for carrier-level protection.
Need a hand?
If you have questions about spam protection on your line, chat with US Mobile support and we'll help.
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