How to Reduce Unwanted Calls and Text Messages
Unwanted calls are annoying. Here are some things you can do to reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive.
- Register your number
Home Phone, Wireless, Fax or VoIP
Register your number on the National Do Not Call List (DNCL).
- Complain or report caller
Home Phone or Wireless
- Complain about a telemarketing call on the National Do Not Call list website or by calling: 1-866-580-DNCL (3625).
- Report scams and fraud calls to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at: 1-888-495-8501.
- Block specific telephone numbers
Home or Business Phone
Subscribe to Call Screen to re-route phone numbers you identify as unwelcome callers. When a call from one of those numbers dials your number, your phone doesn’t ring. Instead an announcement informs the caller that you're not accepting calls. You can divert up to 12 phone numbers. All other calls will ring through to your phone. Visit the Call Screen User Guide for details on how to use this feature.
Wireless
Some phones can block text messages and phone calls from specific phone numbers. Reference your user guide or device manufacturer’s website for information about how to set this up. If your phone doesn’t have this feature, search your app store to find an app that can do this for you.
Note:
Make sure to check the reviews and comments before downloading any app to your phone.
- Trace a call
Home or Business Phone
Call Trace (*57) is a free service provided to all Bell MTS home phone and most business customers where call trace is available. If you receive harassing, obscene or threatening calls, you can use Call Trace to have the number of the last call you received traced and recorded by Bell MTS. This can provide evidence of harassing calls to law enforcement agencies.
- Unlist your phone number
Home or Business Phone
Contact Us to have your telephone listing omitted from the online and printed directories. There is a monthly charge for each non published telephone line and it can take one to two months before it is removed from the online directory. It will be removed from the printed directory on the next printing.
- Call Display
You can use your Call Display to self-identify calls that are assumed to be unsolicited or illegitimate.
Caller-ID Spoofing
Caller-ID Spoofing happens when an incoming phone call shows your own or another easily-recognizable phone number in the call display. Caller-ID Spoofing has been used for theft, credit card activation, identity theft, masking or hiding calls associated with criminal, malicious or threatening activity, etc. If this happens, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website or call 1-888-495-8501 for more information.
- Other ways to protect yourself
If you answer a suspicious call, do not disclose any personal information, including bank accounts, credit card numbers, social insurance numbers, or personal finances for any reason.
