“Your parcel is on hold.” “Your KYC has expired.” “You’ve won a festive offer.” If your phone rings with calls like these every day, you’re not alone.

Spam and scam calls tend to rise during India’s festive season. The good news is that there are free, official tools to stop spam calls or cut them down sharply, plus phone settings that filter the rest.

Here’s a complete step-by-step guide.

Quick Take

To stop spam calls in India:

Register on DND: SMS or call 1909, or use the TRAI DND app
Turn on spam filtering on your phone
Report spam within 7 days via 1909 or the TRAI DND app
Report fraud calls through Chakshu on Sanchar Saathi
If you’ve lost money, call 1930 immediately

Checked on 4 October 2026 using the Department of Telecommunications’ Sanchar Saathi portal.

Spam Calls vs Scam Calls: Know the Difference

Spam (telemarketing): unwanted sales calls and SMS for loans, credit cards, real estate or offers. Annoying, but usually from registered businesses.
Scam (fraud): calls designed to cheat you, such as fake KYC, courier, bank, police or “digital arrest” calls.

To stop spam calls and scam calls, you need different tools: DND and spam reports for telemarketing, and Chakshu and 1930 for fraud.

Step 1: Register on DND to Stop Spam Calls

The first and most effective way to stop spam calls is Do Not Disturb (DND), which lets you block commercial calls and SMS, either completely or by category. It’s free and works with all telecom operators.

Ways to register:

Send an SMS to 1909
Call 1909
Use the TRAI DND app
Use your telecom operator’s app or website

You can block all promotional communication or only certain categories, such as banking, real estate or education. You can also choose time bands and days.

Step 2: Turn On Your Phone’s Spam Filter

Android

Open the Phone app → Settings → Caller ID & spam (or Spam and scam protection), and turn on filtering. On Samsung phones, look under Phone → Settings → Caller ID and spam protection.

iPhone

Go to Settings → Apps → Phone and turn on Silence Unknown Callers, or set up Call Filtering where available. Silenced calls go to voicemail and appear in your recents.

Be aware that silencing unknown callers can also silence delivery agents or new contacts, so check missed calls regularly.

Step 3: Report Spam Within 7 Days

According to Sanchar Saathi, spam complaints made within 7 days are treated as valid complaints that can lead to action against the sender. Later reports still help identify spammers.

Report by: SMS or call to 1909, the TRAI DND app, your telecom operator, or the Chakshu portal.

Step 4: Report Scam Calls on Chakshu

For suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages, use Chakshu on the Sanchar Saathi portal:

Visit sancharsaathi.gov.in
Go to Citizen Centric Services → Chakshu
Choose the medium (call, SMS or WhatsApp) and the fraud category
Enter the details and verify with an OTP
Submit the report

Sanchar Saathi also lets you report international calls that show an Indian +91 number, a common scam trick.

Learn to recognise these calls with our guides on phishing scams and AI voice scams.

Step 5: Block Individual Numbers

Android: open Recents, tap the number, then choose Block / report spam
iPhone: tap the ⓘ next to the number, then Block this Caller

Blocking helps stop spam calls from repeat callers, but scammers change numbers often, so combine it with DND and reporting.

Extra Protection: Check Numbers Registered in Your Name

Sanchar Saathi’s TAFCOP service lets you check how many mobile connections are registered in your name. If you see a number you don’t recognise, report it; fraudsters sometimes misuse identities to get SIM cards.

The portal also offers a Trusted Contact Details service to check official bank and institution contact numbers, so you don’t fall for fake helplines.

What to Do If You Picked Up a Scam Call

Hang up. Don’t share OTPs, PINs, card details or install any app they suggest.
If you shared banking details, call your bank’s official helpline and block your card or UPI.
If money was lost, call 1930 immediately and file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.
Report the number on Chakshu.

Aadyanix Verdict: The Best Way to Stop Spam Calls

No single setting blocks every unwanted call, but combining tools works well: DND + your phone’s spam filter + regular reporting.

It takes about 10 minutes to set up. Do it once, help your parents do the same, and you’ll stop spam calls from taking over your phone. For broader account safety, see our guide to protecting your online privacy.

How to Stop Spam Calls: Frequently Asked Questions

Does DND stop all spam calls?

DND blocks registered telemarketers. It doesn’t stop fraudsters using personal numbers, so also use your phone’s spam filter and report scam calls on Chakshu.