Your inbox and phone, back to normal
Stop spam for good: email, robocalls, texts, and data brokers
Spam is a numbers game: the less your contact details leak and the faster you report what gets through, the less of it you see. These free guides show exactly which settings to change, which official tools to use, and which red flags to watch for. No apps to buy, no scare tactics.
The 15-minute anti-spam plan
If you only do one thing today, do these five steps. Each links to a detailed guide.
- Turn on spam filtering on your phone. Both iPhone and Android have free built-in call and text filters, and every major U.S. carrier offers free spam blocking. How to stop robocalls.
- Register at donotcall.gov. It's free, it never expires, and it cuts legitimate telemarketing calls.
- Forward scam texts to 7726, then delete them. Don't reply, not even with STOP, if the text looks like a scam. Spam text guide.
- Train your email filter. Use "Report spam" in Gmail or "Report junk" in Outlook rather than just deleting. Gmail and Outlook guide.
- Learn the three-second phishing check. Check the real sender address, hover before you click, and be suspicious of urgency. How to spot phishing.
Guides
How to stop spam emails in Gmail and Outlook
Report, block, filter, and unsubscribe the right way, plus email aliases that keep your real address private.
Stop robocalls and the Do Not Call Registry
What the registry does and doesn't do, phone and carrier settings, and how to report illegal calls.
Spam texts: forward to 7726 and block
How the 7726 reporting system works, filtering on iPhone and Android, and the most common text scams.
Data broker opt-out guide
Remove your listings from people-search sites, use state rights, and decide whether a paid removal service is worth it.
How to spot phishing emails and links
Real-world red flags, how to check a link safely, and exactly what to do if you already clicked.
Why spam keeps finding you
Most spam starts with a list. Your phone number or email address ends up on one after a data breach, a sweepstakes entry, a public record, or a sale by a data broker. Spammers then use cheap automated tools to hit millions of numbers and addresses at once, and they only need a tiny fraction to respond.
That's why the best defense has three layers:
- Filter: let your email provider, phone, and carrier block what they can recognize automatically.
- Report: every report trains filters and feeds enforcement data to regulators like the FTC and FCC.
- Reduce exposure: share your real number and address less often, and remove yourself from broker databases.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to reduce spam calls?
Turn on your phone's built-in spam filtering (Silence Unknown Callers on iPhone, or Caller ID & spam filtering in the Google Phone app on Android), enable your carrier's free spam-blocking app, and register your number at donotcall.gov. Together these stop most nuisance calls within a few weeks.
Where do I forward spam text messages?
Forward them to 7726 (the digits spell SPAM). AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and many smaller carriers support it. Your carrier may reply asking for the number the text came from. After that, delete the message and block the sender.
Does unsubscribing from spam emails make it worse?
Unsubscribing from legitimate companies you recognize is safe and works. Clicking unsubscribe in obvious scam or junk email can confirm your address is active, so mark those as spam instead of interacting with them.
Does the Do Not Call Registry stop scammers?
No. The registry stops law-abiding telemarketers from calling you. Scammers ignore it. It still helps, because it makes any sales call you do get after 31 days a red flag and something you can report to the FTC.
How do data brokers get my phone number and email?
They compile public records, marketing lists, app and loyalty-program data, and other sources, then sell or publish profiles. Opting out of the major people-search sites and using email aliases reduces how widely your contact details spread.
What should I do if I clicked a phishing link?
Close the page, do not enter anything else, and change the password for any account you typed into the fake page, starting with your email. Turn on two-step verification, run a security scan, and contact your bank right away if you shared financial details. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.