After my last Phish & Tell newsletter went out, a reader sent in a great question. She kept getting calls from “lenders” claiming her business loan was ready for approval — and every time she blocked the number, the scammers simply called back from a new one. She asked what happened to the Do Not Call Registry and whether anything could actually stop the calls.
She’s not alone. In the past few months, I’ve heard many stories of loan scams, spoofed numbers, and aggressive manipulation tactics. It’s a growing problem, especially for small business owners who rely on inbound phone calls to run their companies.
So let’s break down what’s really going on — and what you can do (realistically) to cut these calls down without hurting your business.
This guide covers:
- Why the Do Not Call Registry doesn’t stop criminals
- The three layers of real scam-call protection
- Business-safe settings for iPhone and Android
- Optional tools that can help
- How to safely verify whether a call is legitimate
- A practical sidebar on outbound calling and DNC rules
Why the Do Not Call Registry Doesn’t Stop Scam Calls
The Do Not Call (DNC) Registry only applies to legitimate telemarketers — companies that don’t want to be fined by the FTC.
Scammers, on the other hand:
- Do not check the list
- Do not follow the law
- Use foreign call centers
- Spoof local numbers
- Change numbers constantly
- Use cheap VoIP systems to blast thousands of calls per hour
They’re not avoiding regulatory fines. They’re avoiding detection.
So the goal is not to “make scammers stop calling” — you cannot do that.
The goal is to reduce interruptions and keep scam calls from reaching you in real time.
The Three Layers of Protecting Yourself From Scam Calls
Think of this as a layered safety net:
- Carrier-level filtering – stops known scam calls before they reach your phone.
- Phone-level settings – helps you identify and triage unknown numbers without losing business.
- Optional third-party apps – adds additional blocking for high-volume situations.
These layers work together without disrupting legitimate customer calls.
With all these instructions, always look to your vendor documentation for the latest -- they change things quickly! Let me know if you get stuck, though.
Layer 1: Turn On Your Carrier’s Scam Blocking
Carrier filtering is the highest-impact, least-disruptive step. It only blocks known malicious numbers.
Verizon — Call Filter (Free)
- Open My Verizon
- Menu → Devices → Manage Device
- Turn on Call Filter and Spam Filter
(Optional upgrade improves spoof detection.)
AT&T — ActiveArmor (Free)
- Install AT&T ActiveArmor
- Sign in
- Enable:
- Fraud Call Blocking
- Spam Call Blocking
- Caller ID Labels
One of the strongest free options.
T-Mobile — Scam Shield (Free)
- Install Scam Shield
- Log in
- Turn on:
- Scam ID
- Scam Block
- Enhanced Caller ID
This won’t interfere with legitimate leads.
Layer 2: Smart Phone Settings (Without Hurting Your Sales)
A lot of cybersecurity advice says to “Silence Unknown Callers.”
But for many small business owners, that’s not practical.
Sales data consistently shows that:
- answering calls live increases conversion,
- unknown callers can be new customers, and
- many clients call from personal cell numbers not in your contacts.
So instead of silencing everyone, we want settings that:
- reduce obvious scam calls,
- label suspicious calls,
- keep your line open for real people,
- give you control in the moment.
Here’s what works.
For iPhone Users (Business-Friendly Settings)
1. Turn on “Silence Junk Callers” (NOT “Silence Unknown Callers”)
This blocks calls Apple has identified as fraudulent — not potential customers.
Settings → Phone → Silence Junk Callers → On
2. Turn on “Filter Unknown Senders” for texts
This keeps spam texts separate from real messages.
Settings → Messages → Filter Unknown Senders
3. Use “Silence Unknown Callers” only if:
- Your leads come through a web form,
- You have a separate business line, or
- You have someone answering calls for you.
Otherwise, skip it.
For Android Users (Business-Friendly Settings)
1. Enable spam filtering without blocking unknown numbers
Google Pixel
Phone → Settings → Spam and Call Screen
Turn on:
- See Caller and Spam ID
- Filter Spam Calls (does NOT block unknown calls)
Samsung Galaxy
Phone → ⋮ → Settings → Caller ID and Spam Protection
Toggle on.
Set Block spam calls to “High Risk Only.”
2. Use Call Screening (Pixel)
Google Assistant screens unknown calls and shows you a real-time transcript.
You can join the call the moment it looks legitimate.
Perfect for business owners.
Layer 3: Optional Call Blocking Apps
If scammers keep breaking through, these apps can help:
- Hiya — privacy-friendly; used by many carriers
- Nomorobo — strong spoof detection
- RoboKiller — includes “answer bots” to waste scammers’ time
These apps:
- block known scam numbers,
- detect suspicious calling patterns,
- reduce repeat attempts,
- label numbers before you pick up.
Not required, but helpful for high-volume harassment.
How to Tell if a Call Is Legitimate
Most business-targeting scam calls follow predictable scripts:
- “Your business loan is approved.”
- “We need to verify some information.”
- “Your EIN or registration has an issue.”
- “This is our final attempt to reach you.”
Here’s the rule I give everyone:
If someone calls you asking for information, hang up and call the company back using the number on their official website.
If the call was real, they’ll confirm it.
If it was fake, you avoided a scam.
This one habit stops the vast majority of phone-based attacks. I know, it's a bit of a pain, but that little bit of a slow-down when possibly dealing with a scam is a good thing. They rely on speed.
When Scam Calls Keep Targeting Your Business
Some sectors — coaching, retail, wellness, food, home services — get more scam calls than others.
If you’re getting hit repeatedly:
Option 1: Use a “public-facing” number (when possible)
This could be:
- Google Voice
- A virtual business line
- A VoIP line
Your private cell number stays reserved for real clients.
This isn’t always easy to do immediately — but it’s worth considering long-term.
Option 2: Screen quickly, answer strategically
(A realistic alternative to “don’t answer unknown calls”)
Sales data says answering live is best.
Security data says scammers rely on you answering live.
So the middle ground is:
Answer if the call might be legitimate — and hang up immediately at the first red flag.
Answer if:
- The number is local
- The caller ID looks business-like
- You’re expecting a call
- You get a reasonable pause before the caller speaks (not a robodialer)
Let it go to voicemail if:
- It’s labeled “Scam Likely,” “Spam Risk,” or “Fraud Risk”
- It’s a suspicious local spoof
- You’re in the middle of something and can’t give a lead proper attention
You can always call back a real customer.
You never owe a scammer your time.
But What About My Calls? Outbound Calls, DNC Rules, and B2B vs. B2C
If your business makes outbound calls, here’s what you need to know:
Are B2B calls treated differently?
Yes. Very differently.
- The Do Not Call Registry protects consumers, not businesses.
- B2B calls are generally exempt from DNC restrictions.
- You can call another business without checking the national list.
BUT:
Many small businesses use personal cell numbers as their business line.
So you can still accidentally reach a number protected under DNC rules.
The safe approach:
1. Maintain your own internal “Do Not Call” list.
If anyone says “don’t call,” you must honor it for 5 years.
2. Avoid purchased lead lists.
They’re full of personal numbers and generate complaints.
3. Get consent whenever possible.
A checkbox on a form or a newsletter sign-up is enough.
4. Use one consistent outbound number.
Changing numbers frequently looks like spammer activity.
5. Identify yourself immediately.
Within 2–3 seconds:
“Hi, this is Alexia from Security Done Easy.”
Clear identification reduces complaints and increases trust.
Final Thoughts
If you’re overwhelmed by scam calls, it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong — it’s because scammers are using more aggressive tools, and small business owners are easy to find.
But with:
- Carrier-level filtering
- Business-safe phone settings
- Optional blocking apps
- Clear verification habits
- A basic understanding of DNC rules
…you can dramatically reduce scam interruptions and protect your business without losing legitimate opportunities.
Have a question? Email me!
