GuideREFUGEE NEWS

Dealing with Spam Calls on Your New U.S. Number

Published: October 15, 2026 | Source: Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Almost every newcomer notices it within days: a new U.S. phone number starts ringing with calls about car warranties, loans, "your Social Security number has been suspended", or a recorded voice offering a prize. Many of these calls are illegal, and some are scams aimed at people who are still learning how things work here [3].

The good news: there is a free official tool, the National Do Not Call Registry at DoNotCall.gov, run by the Federal Trade Commission [1]. Combined with the free call blocking on your phone and from your carrier, it cuts the calls down a lot. This guide shows you how to use it, step by step, and how to report the callers who ignore it.

What the Do Not Call Registry Does, and Does Not Do

• It is free and works for mobile and home numbers alike. Business and fax lines are not covered [1][2].
• It never expires. A number stays on the list until it is disconnected and given to someone else, or you ask for it to be removed [2].
• It takes up to 31 days. Your number appears on the list the next day, but legitimate sales companies can take up to 31 days to stop calling [2].
• It stops sales calls, not all calls. Charities, political groups, debt collectors, surveys and purely informational calls may still call, as long as they are not selling something. Companies you recently did business with, or gave written permission, may also call; if you tell them to stop, they must [1][2].
• It does not block calls. Scammers ignore the list. That is why you also need the call blocking in Step 3 below [2][3].
• Sales robocalls are illegal without your written permission, whether or not your number is registered [2].

Step 1: Register Your Number (5 Minutes)

1. 1 Go to DoNotCall.gov Click Register Your Phone, then Register Here [1].
2. 2 Enter your numbers Up to three phone numbers, plus your email address twice. Click Submit [1].
3. 3 Check and confirm Check the numbers for mistakes, then click Register [1].
4. 4 Click the email link Open the email from Register@donotcall.gov and click the link within 72 hours. Check your spam folder [1].

✓Done. Your number is listed the next day; sales calls should stop within 31 days [2].

No internet? Call 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236) from the phone you want to register [2]. You can check your registration at any time with Verify Your Registration on DoNotCall.gov [1].

Registering is always free and you can do it yourself. If anyone offers to register your number for a fee, it is a scam [2]. Got a new number later? Register the new one; the old one is removed automatically once it is reassigned [2].

Step 2: Report the Callers Who Ignore It

Reports help the FTC find and stop illegal callers, and the numbers reported each day are shared with phone companies to improve their call blocking [2]. Choose the right place first:

How the DoNotCall.gov report works

1. 1 Open the form On DoNotCall.gov click Report Unwanted Calls, then Continue [1].
2. 2 About the call Your number, the date and time, whether it was a recording, call or text, and what it was about (debt relief, fake government, tech support, prizes ...) [1].
3. 3 About the caller The number on your caller ID (even if it may be fake) and any number they asked you to call back [2].

✓Submit. The FTC does not reply to each report, but every report goes into its investigations [2].

Tip: before you block or delete the call, take a screenshot of your call log so you have the number, date and time.

Spam text messages: most carriers let you report them by forwarding the text to 7726 (SPAM) [3]. Illegal robocalls and caller-ID spoofing can also be reported to the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov [3].

Step 3: Turn On Free Call Blocking

The FTC calls blocking and labeling tools your best defense against unwanted calls [4]. Most are already on your phone or free from your carrier:

• iPhone: Settings → Apps → Phone → Screen Unknown Callers. Choose Ask Reason for Calling or Silence (unknown numbers go to voicemail) [5].
• Android (Google Phone app): Phone → Settings → Caller ID & spam → turn on Filter spam calls. Mark a number as spam by tapping the call → Block / report spam [6].
• Your carrier (free versions): T-Mobile Scam Shield, AT&T ActiveArmor (spam blocking must be switched on in the app) or Verizon Call Filter [7].

Save important numbers in your contacts first (your resettlement agency, case worker, doctor, your children's school, employers you applied to), so their calls still ring through [5].

Golden Rules for Saffers

• Don't answer numbers you don't know; let them go to voicemail and call back only if the message is genuine [3].
• Never press a button on a recorded call, not even "press 1 to be removed". It will probably only lead to more robocalls [2][4].
• Caller ID can be faked. A local number or a familiar name proves nothing [3][4].
• Hang up if someone asks for money or personal information, and never give your Social Security number, A-number, case number, bank details or passwords over the phone [3].
• Gift cards or pressure = scam. If someone says they are from a government agency or company, hang up and call back on the official number from its website [3].

For more on settling in, see our Refugee Support and Banking & Finance pages.

Primary Source References

The official pages this guide is based on:

• [1] National Do Not Call Registry (DoNotCall.gov)

  Federal Trade Commission. Register, verify and report.

• [2] FTC: National Do Not Call Registry FAQs

  Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice.

• [3] FCC: Stop Unwanted Robocalls and Texts

  Federal Communications Commission, Consumer Guide.

• [4] FTC: How To Block Unwanted Calls

  Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice.

• [5] Apple: Manage unknown callers on iPhone

  Apple Support.

• [6] Google: Use caller ID & spam protection

  Phone app Help.

• [7] CTIA: Fighting Robocalls

  U.S. wireless industry overview of carrier call-blocking tools and apps.