The Comprehensive Guide to Restricted Calls: What They Are and How to Stop Them

Have you ever been bothered by a "restricted" or "unknown" call? You‘re far from alone. The scourge of restricted calls has exploded in recent years, with scammers and telemarketers using the tactic to conceal their identities and pester consumers. In this in-depth guide, we‘ll explore the world of restricted calls—how they work, why they‘ve proliferated, and most importantly, how you can block them to protect your privacy and peace of mind.

Restricted Calls 101

Before we dive into preventing restricted calls, let‘s clarify exactly what the term means. A "restricted call" is one where the caller has intentionally blocked or masked their caller ID information. Instead of the usual phone number, the recipient will see a message like "Restricted", "Private Caller", or "No Caller ID" on their phone display.

Caller ID, the technology that transmits a caller‘s number and sometimes name, has been around since the 1980s. It works by sending the caller‘s information through a separate data channel alongside the audio of the call. However, callers have always had the option to block this information. On a landline, this is done by dialing *67 before the number. On mobile phones, callers can go into their settings to turn off caller ID or download caller ID spoofing apps.

Why Do People Use Restricted Calling?

There are a few common reasons you might receive a restricted call:

1. Scams and fraud – Unfortunately, this is the most prevalent reason. Scammers use restricted calling to hide their identity as they attempt to trick people out of money or personal info.

2. Telemarketing – Both legitimate and shady telemarketers may block their numbers to get around the National Do Not Call Registry and call blocking apps.

3. Harassment – Restricted calls can enable bullying, threats, stalking, and other forms of harassment by making the perpetrator harder to identify and block.

4. Privacy – Some professionals like doctors and lawyers understandably want to keep their personal numbers private when calling clients. Restricted calling allows this, though many now use separate work lines instead.

5. Accidental/Technical Issues – In some cases, caller ID info may fail to transmit properly due to network issues, resulting in an unintentionally restricted call.

The Scale of the Problem

Just how common are restricted calls? The statistics are staggering:

• Americans received over 54 billion robocalls (many of them restricted) in 2022, a 13% increase from 2021. That‘s roughly 164 calls per person! [^1]

• The FCC received over 270,000 complaints about restricted calls in 2021, up 21% from 2020. [^2]

• Scam calls, often restricted, cost Americans $30 billion in losses in 2021 alone. [^3]

• In the UK, the proportion of scam calls using number spoofing or restriction doubled from 2020 to 2021. [^4]

The problem has only been exacerbated by the rise of cheap internet calling services and autodialing software. Scammers can blast out millions of restricted calls from anywhere in the world for minimal cost.

The Most Common Restricted Call Scams

Restricted calls are the weapon of choice for many phone fraudsters. Some of the most notorious current scams include:

• The Car Warranty Scam – Callers claim your auto warranty is expiring and demand payment to renew, but it‘s completely bogus.
• IRS/Tax Scams – Crooks posing as tax agents threaten you with arrest for fictitious tax debts.
• Tech Support Scams – Callers impersonating tech companies like Microsoft or Apple tell you your computer is infected and charge for phony repairs.
• "Chinese Embassy" Scam – Scammers speaking Mandarin claim to be Chinese officials and demand payment to resolve fictitious legal issues.

How to Block Restricted Calls

Now that we‘ve established the risks, let‘s get into solutions. There are several ways to reduce restricted calls on both mobile and landline phones:

1. Use Built-In Phone Settings

Most smartphones today have built-in options to block calls without caller ID:

• iPhone
  1. Go to Settings > Phone
  2. Scroll down and select "Silence Unknown Callers"
  3. Toggle the setting on
• Android
  1. Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot menu
  2. Select "Settings" then "Block numbers"
  3. Toggle on "Block calls from unidentified callers"
• Samsung
  1. Open the Phone app and tap the three-dot menu
  2. Select "Settings" then "Block numbers"
  3. Enable "Block unknown/private numbers"

Many landline phones also have a "call screening" or "anonymous call rejection" option that can be enabled in the device settings. Check your phone‘s manual for instructions.

2. Contact Your Carrier

Most major phone carriers offer some form of advanced call blocking and caller ID service, though some may charge extra. Here‘s an overview:

Carrier	Service	Features	Price
AT&T	Call Protect	Automatic fraud blocking, advanced caller ID, personal block list	Free (Basic) or $3.99/mo (Plus)
Verizon	Call Filter	Spam detection, blocked numbers list, robocall filter	Free (Basic) or $2.99/mo (Plus)
T-Mobile	Scam Shield	Scam ID and blocking, free caller ID, block list	Free with eligible plan
Sprint/T-Mobile	Call Screener	Caller ID, scam ID, blocking	Free (Basic) or $2.99/mo (Premium)

Contact your carrier for more info on availability and how to enable these features on your line.

3. Use Third-Party Call Blocking Apps

There are numerous apps on the market specifically designed to block restricted calls and other spam. Some top options include:

App	Key Features	Price	Platforms
RoboKiller	Predictive spam blocking, answer bots that waste scammers‘ time, block/allow lists	$4.99/mo or $39.99/year	iOS, Android
Truecaller	Caller ID, spam blocking, reverse number lookup, chat	Free with ads or $2.99/mo	iOS, Android
Hiya	Caller ID, automatic spam detection, block/allow lists, reverse phone lookup	Free (Basic) or $2.99/mo (Premium)	iOS, Android
Mr. Number	Block suspected scam calls, reverse lookup, spam reporting	Free with ads or $1.99/mo	Android
Nomorobo	Real-time robocall blocking, customizable allow list, landline compatible	$2/mo per device	iOS, Android, Landlines

When evaluating call blocking apps, consider factors like cost, compatibility, user reviews, and privacy practices (some require access to your call logs or contacts). It‘s also good to have a backup option in case your primary app has an outage.

4. Register with the National Do Not Call Registry

If restricted calls are bombarding you with spam, make sure you‘ve added your number to the FTC‘s National Do Not Call Registry. It‘s free and takes just a minute. This prohibits sales calls from legitimate companies (though many fraudulent restricted calls will ignore this).

You can also report restricted calls that you believe to be spam to the FTC here. The more data they have, the better they can investigate and shut down major spam operators.

How to Handle Harassing or Threatening Restricted Calls

In some cases, restricted calls aren‘t just annoying—they‘re downright scary. If you‘re receiving restricted calls involving threats, slurs, or any mention of violence, document it as best you can and report it to your local police. For extreme cases, you may also need to contact the FBI.

If the harassment seems to be coming from the same restricted number, you can file a complaint with the FCC. Provide as many details and dates as you can. The FCC can work with your carrier to trace the caller.

You may also be able to get a restraining order against the caller if you know or suspect their identity, even if they‘re using restriction to harass you. Contact a victims‘ advocacy group or local legal aid for guidance.

The Future of Fighting Restricted Calls

While tactics like call blocking apps certainly help, they‘re ultimately a game of whack-a-mole against the ever-evolving scammer. To make real progress, many experts believe we need stronger technical safeguards and legal regulations around caller ID.

One promising development is the STIR/SHAKEN framework. This is a set of protocols that use cryptographic certificates to verify that a call is really coming from the number it claims. As of June 2021, the FCC began requiring all major phone carriers to implement STIR/SHAKEN.

However, the system is not a complete solution—scammers can still find ways to exploit it, and it doesn‘t work on older landline networks. It will likely need to be combined with other tactics like improved scam detection AI, tighter spoofing laws, and international coordination to have a major impact.

Regulatory efforts are also ongoing. In the US, the TRACED Act of 2019 increased fines for illegal spoofing and robocalling and pushed carriers to adopt STIR/SHAKEN faster. Similar laws are in the works in the EU, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Don‘t Let Restricted Calls Run Your Life

Restricted calls can be a massive headache, but you don‘t have to suffer in silence. By understanding the tactics and motivations behind these calls, you can take concrete steps to block them and protect yourself from scams and harassment. Stay vigilant, use the tools available, and don‘t be afraid to push back and report the worst offenders.

Hopefully, as consumers get savvier and technologies like STIR/SHAKEN mature, we can look forward to a future where our phones are used for conversations we actually want to have—not fending off an endless stream of restricted spam. Until then, keep blocking those sketchy calls and spreading the word to help others do the same!

[^1]: 2022 Robocall Statistics: Analysis of 200 Billion Calls

[^2]: Report on Robocalls

[^3]: The Growing Problem of Phone Scams

[^4]: Ofcom Tackles Scam Calls and Issues Provider Guidance