# Screen spam calls and scam calls | BlockTheCalls.com > BlockTheCalls screens unfamiliar incoming calls for U.S. families. Keep trusted callers reachable while cutting down spam calls, telemarketers, and scammers. Canonical: https://blockthecalls.com/ # Screen spam calls and scam calls before you answer **BlockTheCalls** asks unfamiliar callers who they are and why they are calling. Your number, texts, outbound calls, and 911 stay with your phone and carrier. No screening tool catches every bad call. This one gives you a chance to decide. [Sign up](/signup) [Common scam call types](#scam-types) [Watch it work · 0:46](#film) Available in the United States only. By [Doc Compton](/about#doc-compton), CEO Published August 31, 2026. Last updated: October 2, 2026 Imposter and government scam callsTech-support and remote-access scamsGrandparent and family-emergency scamsPrize, lottery, warranty, and fake debt callsAI voice tricks and spoofed local numbersRobocalls and illegal telemarketing Imposter and government scam callsTech-support and remote-access scamsGrandparent and family-emergency scamsPrize, lottery, warranty, and fake debt callsAI voice tricks and spoofed local numbersRobocalls and illegal telemarketing ## Spam, telemarketers, and scammers will not stop on their own Dinner gets interrupted. Numbers you do not know keep ringing. Callers pretend to be the IRS, Social Security, tech support, or even family. ## Calls people get every week [FAQ and scam-call list](/faq) [### Imposter and government scam calls](/faq#scam-types-title) [### Tech-support and remote-access scams](/tech-support-phone-scams) [### Grandparent and family-emergency scams](/protect-elderly-parent-scam-calls) [### Prize, lottery, warranty, and fake debt calls](/faq#scam-types-title) [### AI voice tricks and spoofed local numbers](/ai-voice-impersonation-scams) ### Robocalls and illegal telemarketing Report fraud at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/). [FAQ and scam-call list](/faq#scam-types-title) Watch it work ### See BlockTheCalls screen a call, start to finish, in 46 seconds. An unknown number gets asked who it is and why it is calling. Mom still rings straight through. And if protection on a parent’s phone is turned off, you hear about it. [Sign up](/signup) What BlockTheCalls does Unfamiliar callers get asked to identify themselves before you pick up. Known callers can still reach you. If someone turns off protection on a family line you manage, you get notified. [Sign up](/signup) The scale of the harm ## Billions are stolen every year. And these are only the losses people reported. $7.75 billion ### Reported lost by older Americans People 60 and older filed 201,266 FBI IC3 complaints in 2025. [FBI 2025 IC3 Annual Report](https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2025_IC3Report.pdf) 41% ### Of high-loss impersonation scams began by phone Among older adults who reported losing at least $10,000 to business or government impersonators in 2024. [Federal Trade Commission analysis](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/data-visualizations/data-spotlight/2025/08/false-alarm-real-scam-how-scammers-are-stealing-older-adults-life-savings) $67.1 million ### Reported lost by people under 20 People under 20 were represented in 31,254 FBI IC3 complaints in 2025. [FBI 2025 IC3 Annual Report](https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2025_IC3Report.pdf) ### Reported losses are a floor, not the full cost. Many victims never report what happened because of shame, confusion, fear, or not knowing where to turn. Depending on assumptions about underreporting, the FTC estimates that fraud may have cost older Americans between **$10.1 billion and $81.5 billion in 2024 alone**. The wide range reflects how much harm remains unseen. [FTC, Protecting Older Consumers 2024-2025](https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/P144400-OlderAdultsReportDec2025.pdf) A founder’s note from Doc Compton, CEO “This is not rare. It is not a family’s failure, and victims should not be ashamed.” A founder’s note from Doc Compton, CEO ## Why we are building BlockTheCalls An older man close to our team lost about **$20,000** to a tech-support scam. Then he thought he won Publishers Clearing House. Later, he sent money orders to another scammer. An aide noticed and called his family. They had to seek guardianship. This is not rare. It is not the family’s fault. We are building BlockTheCalls to step in early, before a scammer builds pressure, and to tell families when protection is turned off. Read Doc’s full story BlockTheCalls was born from firsthand experience trying to protect someone vulnerable from determined scammers. An older adult close to our team lost approximately **$20,000 to a tech-support scam**. Later, he became convinced that he had won **Publishers Clearing House**. Most recently, he sent **money orders** to another scammer. An aide at his assisted-living facility recognized what was happening and contacted the family while it was underway. She urged him to stop, but the scammer’s story had already taken hold. He would not listen. The family has since been forced to pursue more serious protective measures, including **guardianship**. He continues to fight for his autonomy even while scammers manipulate him into decisions that threaten that autonomy, his security, and his future. This is not rare. It is not a family’s failure, and victims should not be ashamed. Scammers create urgency, isolate people from those trying to help, and turn trust into money. Our team is building BlockTheCalls to intervene earlier, before an unfamiliar caller has the opportunity to create that pressure, and to help families know when protection has been removed or needs attention. **If this story feels familiar, protect your family before the next call.** [Doc Compton](/about#doc-compton), CEO [Sign up](/signup) Protection for the people who depend on us ## Scammers target the people we worry about most. For parents and caregivers ### Protecting an aging parent Impersonators pretend to be banks, government agencies, technical support, police, delivery companies, or family members in trouble. BlockTheCalls is designed to screen unfamiliar callers and give recognized or approved callers a clearer path to reach the subscriber, without promising that every call will be classified perfectly. [How to protect an elderly parent from scam calls](/protect-elderly-parent-scam-calls) For families ### Protecting children and teens Children and teens are targeted through impersonation, harassment, threats, extortion, and attempts to establish private contact. Screening unfamiliar incoming callers adds a protective boundary without cutting them off from family, schools, doctors, or trusted friends. [Call screening for children and teens](/call-screening-children-teens) ### Call screening is one layer of protection. BlockTheCalls does not currently monitor social media, gaming, web activity, or private messages. In 2025, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 1.4 million reports concerning online enticement, including more than 80,000 concerning sextortion. [NCMEC 2025 CyberTipline data](https://us.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/cybertipline/cybertiplinedata) Included in the MVP ## Protection families can depend on. Guardian visibility is included in the BlockTheCalls MVP. If a supervised family member removes the app, attempts to disable protection, or the protection stops working, the account owner is notified. Families stay informed without having to constantly inspect the protected person’s phone. How it helps ## How does BlockTheCalls screen incoming calls? It is designed to give unfamiliar callers a chance to identify themselves before they interrupt you, while keeping trusted callers reachable. ### What happens to unknown callers? An unfamiliar caller can be asked who they are and why they are calling before the subscriber decides whether to take the call. ### Can trusted callers still reach me? Recognized and approved callers can reach the subscriber normally; unfamiliar legitimate callers can identify themselves during screening. ### How do families stay informed? Account owners know when supervised protection is removed or needs attention. ### What should households prepare before turning on stronger screening? 1. ![](/media/t-prepare/p-640.webp)**Save doctors, schools, pharmacies, and caregivers** as known contacts. 2. ![](/media/settings/spam-stop-640.webp)**Decide who will check missed calls** and voicemail each day. 3. ![](/media/g-teens/p-640.webp)**Agree on a backup way for family to reach you** if a call is screened. 4. ![](/media/settings/iphone-call-screening-640.webp)**Review the [Apple, Google, and carrier screening options](/call-screening-options)** before changing settings. Focused protection with clear boundaries ### What does BlockTheCalls protect, and what does it leave alone? BlockTheCalls screensIncoming calls - Screens unfamiliar **incoming** calls for U.S. subscribers. - Helps families notice when supervised protection is removed or needs attention. Your phone and carrier keepYour numberTextsOutbound calls911 - Does **not** replace your carrier, outbound dialing, texts, or 911. - Does **not** collect payment on this public marketing site. BlockTheCalls is an AI call-screening assistant, not a phone carrier. We protect incoming calls. We do not provide outbound calling or emergency service, and 911 remains on your normal phone. BlockTheCalls.com services operated by DCJP, LLC | Service | Who it helps | Boundary | | --- | --- | --- | | Incoming call screening | U.S. individuals and families | Does not replace your carrier or 911 | | Guardian visibility | Account owners protecting a family member | Notifies when supervised protection needs attention | | Public privacy education | Anyone reading the free guides | Educational only; no payment on this marketing site | A useful starting point ## Spam Blocking Still Makes You Choose A “Spam” or “Scam Likely” label is a warning, not a verdict. Quick comparison for households choosing a first layer of protection | Approach | What it usually does | Main limitation | | --- | --- | --- | | Carrier “Spam” / “Scam Likely” labels | Warns you about risky-looking numbers | The phone can still ring; labels are not proof of identity | | Aggressive automatic blocking | Reduces interruptions | Can hide wanted medical, school, caregiver, business, vendor, or job-related calls | | BlockTheCalls screening | Asks unfamiliar callers to identify themselves before you decide | No system classifies every good or bad call perfectly | ### Labels help you notice risk With call labeling, a suspicious call can still ring. The label gives you context, but you decide whether to answer, ignore it, or block that number. Scammers can spoof familiar-looking numbers, so caller ID alone is not proof of who is calling. ### Automatic blocking needs a safety check More aggressive filters may reduce interruptions, but they can also hide wanted calls from a doctor, school, pharmacy, caregiver, or new service provider. Save essential contacts, review missed calls and voicemail, and test your settings before relying on them. ### Choose the protection level that fits your household. Start with the least aggressive setting that helps. If you turn on stronger filtering, make a plan to check the calls it moves aside and show family members how to reach you another way when a call matters. [Read the Apple, Google, and carrier screening explainer](/call-screening-options) Our broader mission ## Calls are only the beginning. We are privacy advocates building protection that extends beyond unwanted incoming calls. We are using technology to close gaps left by carriers and government programs while minimizing data collection and keeping families, not platforms, in control. **Stay tuned** as BlockTheCalls develops more ways to protect your privacy, your family, and the people most vulnerable to manipulation. Pilot access ## Get notified when access opens. BlockTheCalls is prelaunch. You can request notification when access opens. A request does not create a paid subscription. ### Sign up This public site lets you request notification. It does not collect payment details. [Sign up](/signup) Already have an account? [Log in to the app](/login). FAQ ## Good questions. [See the full FAQ and scam-call list](/faq) ### Who is BlockTheCalls for? People who get spam calls, telemarketers, harassing calls, and scam calls. Families helping an aging parent, a child, or someone else who needs a hand. People who need a more flexible, customizable option than what phone companies, Google, and Apple already offer, and who still need the right calls to get through. ### What kinds of scam calls does the FTC warn about? Common phone scams include government or business imposters, Social Security and IRS tricks, tech-support scams, grandparent or family-emergency scams, prize and lottery calls, fake debt collection, warranty and auto scams, charity fraud, romance scams, and AI voice impersonation. Scammers also spoof local numbers so the call looks familiar. ### How do we help protect your elderly and vulnerable family? We screen unfamiliar incoming calls so an older parent or other vulnerable person gets more context before answering. If you manage a supervised family line, you are notified when protection is removed, someone tries to turn it off, or it needs attention. No. ### Are you a phone company? No. BlockTheCalls is an AI assistant focused on protecting incoming calls. Your number, texts, outbound calls, and 911 stay with your phone and carrier. 911 ### What about 911 and outbound calls? You continue to dial out, including 911, using your normal phone. BlockTheCalls does not provide outbound or emergency calling. ### What happens to my data? We collect only what is needed to provide the service, retain it only as long as necessary or legally required, and then delete it. As privacy advocates, we will never sell your data. Our engineers treat cybersecurity as a core job and have put serious work into PCI DSS and SOC 2 style controls. We are not yet certified for those programs, but we are putting every effort into protecting your data. See our Privacy Policy. [Privacy Policy](/privacy) ### Can I subscribe here? You can request notification from the signup page. This public site does not collect payment or create a paid subscription. [Sign up](/signup) ### Who runs BlockTheCalls? DCJP, LLC d/b/a BlockTheCalls.com is owned by Doc Compton, our CEO. Doc has spent years helping people fight robocalls and phone scams, including consumer education, scambaiting, and the Turning Robocalls Into Cash work covered in national press. Alongside Doc is a team of engineers and industry experts in telecom, software development, cloud architecture, and AI. They understand how the dark side operates and how to fight back.