Sick of spam calls? The hidden iPhone and Android features that do the talking for you

We’ve all been there. You’re right in the middle of dinner, or perhaps just settled in for a bit of telly, when your phone rings with a random “07” or “01634” number. You pick up, only to be greeted by a three-second silence followed by a robot asking about your “recent loft insulation.”

In the past, we’d all head straight to a phone lookup website to see who called, but by then the annoyance has already happened. What many of our customers don’t realise is that your smartphone has a built-in “bouncer.” You can screen these calls in real-time and see exactly what the caller wants before you ever say “hello.”

The iPhone way: Live Voicemail

If you’re on an iPhone running iOS 17 or later, you have a feature called Live Voicemail. It’s a bit of a game-changer because instead of just sending someone to a recording, you can watch a live transcript of what they’re saying as they say it.

How to set it up:

• Open Settings and scroll down to Phone.
• Tap Live Voicemail.
• Toggle the switch to On.

Now, when a dodgy-looking number calls, tap the Voicemail icon on your screen. The phone answers for you and you’ll see their words appear in text on your lock screen. If it’s the GP surgery or a delivery driver, you can pick up mid-sentence. If it’s a scammer, you just hit “Block.”

The Android way: Google Call Screen

If you’re using a Google Pixel or certain other modern Android handsets, you have access to Call Screen. This is arguably even cleverer because Google Assistant speaks to the caller for you.

How to set it up:

• Open your Phone app.
• Tap the three dots in the top corner and hit Settings.
• Tap Spam and Call Screen (or just Call Screen), then select Call Screen.
• You can set it to Automatically Screen so your phone doesn't even ring if it suspects a robocall.

When the phone rings, tap Screen Call. You’ll see a transcript of the Assistant asking: “Hi, the person you’re calling is using a screening service. Please say why you’re calling.” Usually, scammers hang up the moment they realise they’re talking to an AI.

Why use this instead of a phone lookup site?

Websites that “identify” numbers are often out of date, and frankly, they’re usually trying to sell you a premium subscription. Screening your calls natively on your device is safer, faster and completely free. It keeps your data private and stops you from wasting your breath on people you don't want to talk to.

Need a hand with your settings?

If you’ve tried to find these settings and your phone just doesn’t seem to have them, it might be down to an older software version or a handset that’s reached the end of its security updates. Technology moves fast, and sometimes it moves a bit too fast for its own good.

While we operate as a fulfilment warehouse here in Rochester and don’t offer over-the-counter service, our team is always available to help our customers remotely.

If you’re struggling with spam or your current phone is acting up, you can get in touch with Fulfillment Goods UK via phone or email.

Whether you need help getting your settings sorted or you’re looking to upgrade to a model that handles this stuff automatically, we’re here to help.

There’s no need to put up with nuisance calls in 2026. Let your phone do the hard work so you can get back to your evening.