this post was submitted on 19 Oct 2024
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Hello to all. Lately I've been receiving a lot of spam calls under private number. Is there a way to block them? Any app?

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

I use Yet Another Call Blocker. It has a custom block list you can use to block a specific number.

The block list also supports wildcard characters, which is my favorite feature! I use it to block swaths of numbers (much of my spam comes from the state I used to live in, so I block those area codes).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Looks like it hasn't been updated in 3 years. Is it still maintained?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

The app has not been updated in long time, but the database is still updating daily for me, and the app still works on Android 14. Can't tell it will continue working in the future...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

You're right, I hadn't noticed that.

Looks like the F-droid version is way behind, because you can see on their GitLab page that the project is still maintained. It'd be best to get the app directly through GitLab I suppose, or add an F-droid repo that has a more up-to-date version.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Looks like there are just more translations in the gitlab history, but no new releases since 2021.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Ugh, you're right! I didn't realize. I'm going to give SpamBlocker a try instead. I just downloaded and flipped through the options and it looks better than "Yet Another Call Blocker" anyway.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

I mean, it doesn't necessarily mean the app is dead, maybe it's just still working as intended?

[–] Tucumano88 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Block hidden numbers can it be that option right?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Yes. Go to settings and toggle the Block hidden numbers option

[–] Tucumano88 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Downloaded and trying. Can block private numbers?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

It can block hidden numbers, if that's what you mean by "private".

I hope you like the app!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

@Tucumano88 try Fossify Phone. It allows you to block numbers not in your contact list and private numbers as well.

And the name says it all: it's FOSS.

🔗 https://f-droid.org/packages/org.fossify.phone/

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

usually the built-in phone app will have an option to block calls from unidentified callers, no app needed.

[–] Tucumano88 4 points 3 weeks ago

Not in my case...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

A couple options here: https://github.com/offa/android-foss?tab=readme-ov-file#-call-blocker--spam-filter

None of them are very big but they may be worth a try

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Been using NoPhoneSpam. While it won't automatically block any numbers, it will cancel incoming calls not matching its filters. Only issue is that, some times, it takes a few seconds for it to recognize not passing calls, but I think it happens when the phone is under a higher load and the system starts lagging a bit, like when downloading bigger files and playing games.

[–] Tucumano88 1 points 3 weeks ago

You know if it can block private numbers?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

If you're in the US and on a carrier that supports stir/shaken and voLTE, Carrion can block (or silence) calls that fail verification. It can also block calls from a block list.