Guide · Android · Updated September 2026
How to Block Scam Likely Calls on Android
Android already ships with the tools to silence scam calls — they are just switched off by default. Pixel, Samsung, and every other Android phone handle it slightly differently, so here is each one, plus the free carrier block that stops the call before it arrives.
The 60-second fix
Phone app → Settings → Spam and Call Screen → Filter spam calls → ON. On T-Mobile, also dial #662#.
Step by step
- Turn on spam filtering. Phone by Google → three-dot menu → Settings → Spam and Call Screen → turn on See caller & spam ID, then Filter spam calls. Flagged calls never ring; they go straight to a separate spam voicemail folder.
- Pixel: switch on Call Screen. Phone → Settings → Spam and Call Screen → Call Screen → Unknown call settings. Set Possibly faked numbers and Spam to Automatically screen, decline and silently decline.
- Samsung: switch on Smart Call. Phone → menu → Settings → Caller ID and spam protection → ON, then turn on Block spam and scam calls. Under Block numbers, also enable Block unknown/private numbers if you want everything unlisted silenced.
- Add the free carrier block. T-Mobile: dial #662#. AT&T: ActiveArmor app → Block suspected spam. Verizon: Call Filter → Spam filter → High. US Cellular: Call Guardian in My Account.
- Block and report the number. Long-press the call in Recents → Block/report spam. Forwarding the number to 7726 adds it to the carrier's shared block list.
Never do these
- Never press 1 to be removed from a list — it proves a person answered.
- Never call the number back. Scam Likely is a label, not a real line.
- Never install a “call blocker” that asks for your bank or ID details.
Questions people ask
How do I stop Scam Likely calls on Android?
Open the Phone by Google app, tap the three-dot menu → Settings → Spam and Call Screen, then turn on 'See caller & spam ID' and 'Filter spam calls'. Calls your carrier or Google flags as scam are silenced and moved to a spam folder. Add your carrier's free block on top for the strongest result.
Where is spam blocking on a Samsung phone?
Samsung uses its own dialler: Phone → menu → Settings → Caller ID and spam protection. Turn that on, then enable 'Block spam and scam calls'. Number-by-number blocking lives under Settings → Block numbers.
What does Pixel Call Screen do?
Call Screen has the Google Assistant answer the call for you, ask who is calling and why, and show a live transcript. Automated scam diallers never respond, so the call is declined before your phone rings.
Does blocking spam calls on Android cost anything?
No. Phone by Google's spam filter, Pixel Call Screen, Samsung Smart Call, and every major US carrier's basic scam block are all free. Paid apps like Hiya or RoboKiller add extra lists but are not required.
Why do Scam Likely calls still ring on my Android?
Filters miss numbers in the first hours of a new campaign, and a spoofed 'neighbour' number can look local and legitimate. Stack the carrier block with the Phone app filter, and never press 1 or call back — both mark your number as live and increase the volume.
How do I see calls that were filtered?
In Phone by Google, open Recents and switch the filter to Spam, or open Voicemail → Spam. Nothing is deleted, so you can restore a number that was flagged by mistake.
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Related guides
Authoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
- US Federal Communications Commission — Robocalls
Regulator guidance on blocking unwanted calls and texts.
- US National Do Not Call Registry
Register a number and file telemarketing complaints.
- UK Ofcom — Nuisance Calls and Messages
UK regulator advice and reporting routes for scam calls and SMS.
