# Is there a way to better combat phone spam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 13, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-better-combat-phone-spam/846362 "2020-01-13T18:28:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-better-combat-phone-spam/846362/1 "2020-01-13T18:28:08Z")
I have an app on my cell phone that has dramatically cut the number of spam calls I get. I’d say I was getting about four a day before the app, now I’m down to maybe a couple per week. But as a public policy matter, are there things that can be done to stick it to these robocallers? I understand there are fines that can be levied, but that many of the calls originate from overseas. So are there technical measures that phone companies or others could take to cut down on these annoyances, but it just isn’t being done? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-better-combat-phone-spam/846362/2 "2020-01-13T18:40:16Z")
Cell phone companies are labeling calls as suspected spam. I’m on T Mobile but I think all of the carriers are doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-better-combat-phone-spam/846362/3 "2020-01-13T21:04:56Z")
Well, I’m wondering if there’s something more that can be done beyond that. Like phone companies doing the SDMB version of a telephone ban for bad actors; maybe some other kind of international law enforcement; or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-better-combat-phone-spam/846362/4 "2020-01-13T22:06:09Z")
Almost all of these spammers use VoIP. To get from the Internet to the telephone system they contract with a company to provide the connection. These companies know perfectly well who these people are and what they are doing. But since they’re getting paid, all is well in their morally-deficient mindset. There was new legislation just signed to combat tele-spammers. But there was nothing specific dealing with these middle-men. So, guess how well that’s going to go? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-better-combat-phone-spam/846362/5 "2020-01-13T22:25:11Z")
I have gotten two or three spam calls in the almost seven years I’ve lived in Taiwan, but somehow I doubt that you would consider moving there a “better way” of combatting spam. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-better-combat-phone-spam/846362/6 "2020-01-14T06:13:06Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > I have gotten two or three spam calls in the almost seven years I’ve lived in Taiwan, but somehow I doubt that you would consider moving there a “better way” of combatting spam. 😉 From another point of view, the outcome of a certain recent election may itself be a good enough reason to move to Taiwan.