Guide · AT&T · Updated September 2026
Block Spam and “Scam Likely” Calls on AT&T
AT&T ActiveArmor stops confirmed fraud calls on the network and labels the ones it is unsure about. It is free on every wireless line.
The 30-second version
ActiveArmor app → Calls → Block suspected spam: On → switch on spam alerts → pick your nuisance categories.
Step by step
- Install AT&T ActiveArmor Mobile Security from the App Store or Google Play and sign in with your AT&T wireless number.
- Open the Calls tab and switch on Block suspected spam — AT&T then stops calls it has confirmed as fraud before they reach your handset.
- Turn on Suspected spam alerts so borderline calls arrive labelled on screen instead of silently ringing.
- Under Nuisance categories, choose which types to send straight to voicemail: telemarketing, surveys, political, account services.
- Add repeat offenders to your Personal block list.
- Report anything that gets through with Report a call — reports improve the classification every AT&T line uses.
Watch out for
- “AT&T loyalty department” calls offering a bill credit if you read back a code — that code is a port-out or account takeover.
- Anyone charging a fee to switch blocking on. The blocking tier costs nothing.
- Relying on a personal block list alone. Spoofed numbers rotate daily, so the network filter is what does the real work.
Questions people ask
How do I block Scam Likely calls on AT&T?
Install AT&T ActiveArmor, open the Calls tab and turn on Block suspected spam. Confirmed fraud calls are then blocked on the AT&T network so your phone never rings. Turn on suspected spam alerts as well so calls AT&T is unsure about arrive labelled rather than blocked.
Is AT&T ActiveArmor free?
The blocking, labelling and reporting tier is free on every AT&T wireless line. ActiveArmor Advanced is a paid add-on with reverse number lookup, a VPN and identity monitoring — none of which you need to stop scam calls.
Does ActiveArmor work without the app?
Automatic fraud blocking is on by default at network level for most AT&T lines, but you only get category controls, labelling choices and reporting inside the app. Installing it is worth the two minutes.
Why do spam calls still get through ActiveArmor?
It blocks numbers already classified as fraud. Scam operations spoof fresh numbers constantly, so new ones land before the classification catches up. Add the phone's own filter — Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone, spam filtering in the Google Phone app on Android — for a second layer.
How do I stop scam texts on AT&T?
ActiveArmor does not filter SMS. Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM) from your AT&T line, then delete it. Never tap the link, even to see where it goes.
Will it block calls I actually want?
Sometimes. Clinics, delivery drivers and recruiters often call from numbers with no history. Check the blocked-call history in ActiveArmor weekly for the first month, and save legitimate numbers to your contacts.
Get My Free Scam Alerts
New phone and text scams, the week they start spreading. Free, unsubscribe any time.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime · Protected by hCaptcha.
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.
