How to Block Spam Calls in Singapore on Android and iPhone

If your phone in Singapore rings with unknown numbers offering loans, threatening disconnection, or speaking Mandarin about a parcel you never ordered, you are not alone. Scam and spam calls are one of the most reported nuisances in the country, and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) works with carriers to curb them at the network level. But the fastest relief comes from your own phone. With built-in blocking, the ScamShield app, and your carrier's tools layered together, you can cut the daily ringing down to almost nothing.

Why spam calls keep coming

Scammers use caller-ID spoofing to display a local-looking number, sometimes starting with 8 or 9 like an ordinary mobile line, or even mimicking a real organisation's number. Blocking one number therefore rarely ends the problem, because the next call comes from a different spoofed number. Common scripts in Singapore include fake bank officers, impersonators claiming to be from government agencies or the police, loan and investment offers, and Mandarin-language robocalls about parcels or immigration matters. Recognising that the displayed number proves nothing is the first step: never trust caller ID, and never share personal details on an incoming call.

Block calls on Android, step by step

On most Android phones using Google's Phone app:

1. Open the Phone app and go to Recents.
2. Tap the number you want to block, then tap Block and confirm.
3. To filter automatically, open the Phone app's Settings, choose Spam and Call Screen, and turn on See caller and spam ID plus Filter spam calls.

Samsung phones offer similar protection through their own Phone app settings, and many models label suspected spam before you answer. If your phone supports call screening, use it: unknown callers are asked to state their reason before your phone rings, which stops most robocalls cold. Review the blocked list occasionally so a wrongly blocked number, such as a clinic or delivery rider, can be released.

Block calls on iPhone, step by step

On iOS:

1. Open Phone → Recents and tap the ⓘ button next to the number.
2. Scroll down and choose Block this Caller.
3. Manage the list anytime under Settings → Phone → Blocked Contacts.

For stronger quiet, turn on Silence Unknown Callers under Settings → Phone. Calls from numbers not in your contacts go straight to voicemail and appear in your call history, so legitimate callers such as doctors' offices, schools, or delivery riders can still leave a message. iPhone users can also install call-blocking apps from the App Store, including ScamShield, which integrates with the system call-blocking list.

Add the ScamShield layer

ScamShield is the anti-scam app developed with the National Crime Prevention Council and supported by the Singapore Police Force, and every smartphone user in Singapore should have it. It checks incoming calls and messages against a database of numbers reported in scams and blocks or warns you about them. Download it from the official app stores, enable its call-blocking and SMS-filtering permissions, and keep it updated so new scam numbers are caught quickly. You can also use the ScamShield app or the website at scamshield.gov.sg to report numbers that tried to scam you, which protects other users too. If you are unsure whether something is a scam, the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 can advise you.

Use your carrier's tools

Singapore's mobile operators, including Singtel, StarHub, and M1, offer scam-call detection and blocking features on their networks and in their apps. Check your carrier's app or website for the current names and settings, and turn on whatever spam labelling and blocking is available on your plan. Since network-level filtering catches some scam calls before they ever reach your phone, combining it with on-device blocking gives you two independent layers. If you use a mobile virtual network operator that rides on one of the main networks, ask its support line which anti-scam features are enabled for your line.

Habits that make blocking work

Blocking is a filter, not a wall, so pair it with a few habits. Let unknown numbers go to voicemail instead of answering; genuine callers leave messages, while robocalls and most scammers move on. Never call back an unknown missed number immediately, especially one with an unfamiliar country code, since some scams profit from the callback itself. If a caller claims to be from your bank, the police, or a government agency, hang up and call the organisation back on its official published number. And when a new spam script appears, report it through ScamShield so the shared database learns it fast.

No single switch stops every spam call, but this layered routine does something better: it makes each new wave of scam calls die quietly in your blocked list instead of interrupting your day. Set it up once, keep ScamShield updated, and let unknown callers prove themselves in voicemail.