Latest news with #spamcalls
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
‘Invisible' iPhone setting blocks spam & scam calls automatically – but it only appears if you make little-known change
CALL KILLER There are some other tricks you'll want to try too BLOCK scam calls in an instant with a hidden iPhone setting that very few people know about. Spam phone calls aren't just annoying – they can also be a dangerous tactic by criminals to steal your info or money. 5 5 Some unlucky phone owners will be plagued by dozens of these dodgy calls every single week. But there's a little-known iPhone setting that can block out calls from these numbers automatically. It's called Call Blocking & Identification, but it's invisible on your phone – at least until you download the right app. Once you download a call ID app, the feature will then show up in your settings. There are loads of call ID apps out there. They maintain giant databases of phone numbers that are known to be linked to spam or scam operations. So once you've got the app and the feature switched on, your calls will be screened to see if there's a match with a dodgy database. That way, you can avoid having to put up with non-stop spam calls. HOW TO TURN IT ON First, you'll need to go to the official Apple App Store and download some call ID apps. Some popular options are Truecaller and Whoscall, but there are loads out there. Apples's big announcements from WWDC with a flurry new features for the gadgets you already own And the more you have installed, the greater your chance of catching a dodgy number. Once you've downloaded them, you can go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. This setting will only appear if you have at least one call ID apps installed. Chose the option to Silence Junk Callers (which works based on your carrier) and then activate any Call Identification apps that you've installed. 5 TRY SILENCING UNKNOWN CALLERS Here's another trick that's worth trying... You can actually set your iPhone up to silence all phone calls from unknown callers. If you turn the setting on, unknown callers will be sent straight to voicemail. Just go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls > Silence Unknown Callers and toggle it on. Also, if you've got iOS 17 or later (go to Settings > General > Software Update to check) then you can read transcriptions of your voicemail so you don't have to listen to them. And they should show up in real-time as the voicemail is being left. Picture Credit: The Sun / Apple You'll need to toggle them to the green "on" position for them to become active. COMING SOON! There's another handy feature coming soon that will help you avoid even more phone scammers. It's called Call Screening, and it's a new trick due out in the upcoming iOS 26 update for your iPhone. That won't be out until September at the earliest, but it'll make a big difference. Once it's out, go to Settings > General > Software Update to claim the new features. Then when that's installed, your phone will use a virtual AI robot to automatically screen your calls. It will ask the person's name and reason for calling – all using a robot voice – and then write out the answer for you in real-time on your screen. Once that appears, you can decide whether to answer, or instead send it to voicemail if you think it's a scam. IOS 26 SUPPORTED DEVICES – THE FULL LIST Here are the iOS 26 supported devices... iPhone 16e iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd gen) iPhone SE (2nd gen) Picture Credit: Apple future cons.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Livecaller Presents the First Free iOS Native App to Help iPhone Users Say Hello to Real-Time Caller ID
Livecaller has identified and blocked over 22 million unwanted spam calls in real time globally, getting most of the spam calls hitting users in U.S., UK, and Australia New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2025) - the trusted app for iOS and Android improving the communication and calling experiences for users worldwide, launched Livecaller last month, the first free, real-time caller ID app exclusively for iPhone users. This launch marked a milestone for the Apple ecosystem, as it solves a key challenge by offering instant caller identification, thanks to Apple's Live Caller ID Lookup framework. After already identifying more than 22 million calls in less than a month, Livecaller's global reach detects callers and spammers from a pool of over 4 billion numbers, offering real-time call identification and enhanced security at no cost, a feature even Apple plans to incorporate in its iOS 26 update. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: Spam calls have become a nearly unavoidable yet increasingly dangerous part of everyday life. The rise of AI-driven voice hoaxes aimed at stealing personal information only exacerbates this problem. Scammers can now even clone the voices of loved ones, adding a new layer of deception to their schemes. The US Federal Trade Commission recently revealed that Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with $1.9 billion lost to traditional scams, such as phone calls. With a significant portion of Android users already benefiting from caller ID features, Livecaller is bringing the same level of security to Apple devices free of charge. When a call is received, the number is immediately encrypted, converting it to a coded format that can't be read directly. This encrypted number is then matched against Livecaller's database of known contacts. Once the caller's identity is verified, the result is sent back to the iPhone, maintaining confidentiality while still providing real-time caller identification. Through Apple's Live Caller ID Lookup framework, the app can automatically identify and flag scam calls, even those not in the user's contact list. If a spam call is detected, labels like "Spam: Telemarketing" will appear on the iPhone's home screen, all while preserving user privacy. With iOS 18, Livecaller's technology is integrated into Apple's software, allowing it to operate natively without requiring additional permissions or the user to keep the app open. Unlike previous iOS spam and telemarketing blockers, Livecaller eliminates the need for users to manually report or block unwanted numbers. The app is currently available in 28 languages, supporting all major languages. "We're excited to help iPhone users restore the trust they may have lost due to the surge in spam and telemarketing calls," says Ken Vinner, CEO and Co-Founder of "Apple's upcoming iOS 26 update highlights the growing need for call screening, but while its call filtering solutions depend on user intervention, Livecaller provides iPhone users with a smarter, dependable way to enhance call security automatically." Livecaller is available to download for iPhone users: About is a leading social phonebook platform, enhancing the communication experience for over 50 million users around the world. Leveraging innovative technology, we provide real-time caller identification, empowering our users to stay one step ahead of unwanted spam calls and ensuring a secure communication environment. Our mission is to make every phone interaction safe, efficient, and personalized. With you'll always know who's on the other side of the line. To learn more, please visit Alona Blondealona@ York, USA To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
More Americans getting spam calls after credit pulled for mortgage loan
No one likes getting spam phone calls, but they can be particularly bad for people looking to buy a home. CBS News Miami research director Bryan Dyke found this out firsthand. Over the last few weeks, he said he's been inundated with calls, texts and voicemails concerning home loans and insurance. "It makes it impossible to use your device," he said. Dyke said it started after he had already applied for a loan from a lender that his realtor had recommended. He said after he filled out the online application, his phone started blowing up with numbers other than his lender. "They started immediately within minutes. Less than five minutes," Dyke said. A survey by found that 74% of Americans said they've received unwanted calls, text messages, and email after their credit was pulled for a loan or insurance policy. "It is currently legal, and we're trying to make it illegal," Orlando Diaz, president of the Florida Association of Mortgage Professionals, said. Loan spam calls, texts are legal Diaz said Dyke's situation sounds like a practice called "trigger leads." That's where information people put on loan applications is sold by credit bureaus without their knowledge or consent. "Without the credit bureaus selling that information, there is no way that any marketing company or lenders would find out that they're applying for a loan with somebody else," Diaz said. Diaz wants Florida law to ban licensed mortgage lenders in Florida from using information obtained from a credit bureau, unless they have a previous existing business relationship. He also would like Congress to ban the practice of selling personal information, unless the consumer opts in. CBS News Miami reached out to each of the big three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), but they referred us to the Consumer Data Industry Association. While the CDIA declined an on-camera interview, their President and CEO Dan Smith did issue a statement. "Mortgage lenders should not inundate consumers with unwanted telephone solicitations. We believe that the U.S. Congress is best positioned to address the root cause - telephone calls - while maintaining a competitive market that allows consumers to shop for a better deal," Smith said. Getting the calls, texts to stop can be a challenge Stefania Mogollon, a Miami realtor, said she gets these calls too, but they aren't offering her a loan. "I'm being bombarded by the same people trying to sell me their information so I can do business with them," Mogollon said. Dyke said he tried his lender's opt-out method to stop getting these calls, but it really didn't help. "It hasn't done anything for me. It's two weeks later. The calls have slowed but I'm still getting 10-15 calls a day," he said. Diaz says there are several ways you can opt out of getting these calls before applying for a mortgage. The Consumer Data Industry Association says there's an opt-out link for having your personal info sold for solicitation. Click here to sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry.
