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For a spam call in the United States, first write down the receiving number, the caller-ID number or label, any callback number, and the date and time. Then choose the reporting route that matches what happened: DoNotCall.gov for an unwanted call with no reported financial loss, ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you lost money or have information about a scammer or company, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) complaint center for unwanted calls, robocalls, caller-ID spoofing, or spoofing of your own number.
Contact your carrier separately to ask about call blocking, call labeling, or screening. Reporting gives agencies information for analysis and possible enforcement; it does not guarantee that calls will stop, identify the caller, or produce an individual response.
Which place should receive your report?
The right destination depends on whether the call was merely unwanted, involved fraud or a financial loss, or used spoofing. These are U.S. federal reporting routes; carrier procedures and authorities in other countries can differ.
| What happened | Where to report | Purpose and expectation |
|---|---|---|
| An unwanted call, but no money was lost | DoNotCall.gov | Submit the call details to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for complaint analysis and industry sharing. |
| You lost money or have information about a scammer or company | ReportFraud.ftc.gov | Provide a fraud report to the FTC with the loss and identifying information you have. |
| Unwanted calls, robocalls, or suspected caller-ID spoofing | FCC complaint center | Give the FCC information it can use for policy work and possible enforcement; the FCC does not resolve individual unwanted-call complaints. |
| Your own number is being spoofed, blocked, or labeled as potential spam | FCC complaint center’s issue path for “my own number is being spoofed” | Report misuse of your number as a distinct FCC complaint category. |
| You want fewer calls on your phone | Your mobile or landline carrier and device settings | Ask about blocking, screening, and labeling features; this is prevention, not an agency complaint. |
You can use more than one route when the facts justify it. For example, a robocall that also took your money can be reported to the FTC’s fraud form and to the FCC, while your carrier handles blocking or screening.
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Record the call before deleting anything
Capture the details while they are still available in your call history, voicemail, text message, or notes. The FTC specifically asks for the following information:
- The phone number that received the call.
- The number or name displayed on caller ID, even when you suspect it was forged.
- Any number the caller instructed you to call back.
- The date and time of the call, if known.
- What the caller said, what was requested, and whether you paid, shared information, or were directed to another number.
Save the voicemail or message if your phone permits it, and keep screenshots of caller-ID details. Do not describe the caller-ID entry as proof of identity. The FTC explains that scammers can fake names and numbers, including local-looking numbers and numbers belonging to unrelated people. Report the value exactly as it appeared and identify it as “caller ID.” A spoofed number can still help authorities and telecom companies identify calling patterns.
Use DoNotCall.gov for an unwanted call with no reported loss
Submit the streamlined complaint
For an unwanted call where you did not report losing money, go to DoNotCall.gov and use its reporting form. Enter the receiving number, caller-ID number, callback number if one was supplied, and the date and time when available. Describe the call accurately without guessing who was behind the caller ID.
The FTC receives millions of reports each year. It cannot respond individually to every report, but it analyzes complaint patterns and shares reported phone numbers with telecommunications carriers and other industry partners working on call blocking and call labeling.
Register a number for legitimate telemarketing limits
If the problem is a legitimate sales call, check whether your number is registered with the National Do Not Call Registry. FTC guidance says a new registration can take up to 31 days to take effect. The Registry is designed for legitimate companies that follow the law; scammers may ignore it, so registration is not a substitute for reporting a fraudulent call or for technical call blocking.
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- The Patented ProSeries 3 Call Blocker from Digitone is an Easy Installation and is Simple to Use. No need to rush over and tap a red button when the ProSeries has already blocked a known unwanted SPAM, Out of Area, Private, Anonymous, 800 Service, ROBO?, Dashes, "Quotes" or V123+ call. Use Call History to select Any Caller to Block by (Double Tap) Name or Number. Block any NAME like: Unavailable, Unknown, SCAM RISK, City + State, Potential Scam, Wireless Caller. Block ANY call without answering, as they call in with either RED button.
- Feel confident that the ProSeries already Blocks Millions of Known Unwanted Numbers and Fake Names. No need to change your existing phones or service. Works with Any Analog Corded, Cordless Phone or Fax System on any telephone service. Large Back-Lighted Display. Got questions? Call the number on the front screen of the ProSeries 3.
- Works with all USA phone companies: AT&T, Cox, Spectrum, CenturyLink, Cable Modems, DSL, FIOS, or Digital Services from VoIP Telcos like [V] from Verizon, Ooma Telo, Ooma Basic, Vonage, Magic Jack etc. Also, works in Mexico, Canada, Brazil, European Union (ETSI), Australia, Singapore and others with North American standardized phone lines.
- Allow any blocked caller to ring through like normal with the Green Invite Button. Double Tap the Green Button to add VIP callers shown in Call History. Note: Caller ID Name and Number Service from your phone company is required for this model to work automatically.
Registration also does not remove calls from your phone by itself. It tells compliant telemarketers not to call a listed number, while your carrier or device performs any blocking or screening.
Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov when there is fraud, a loss, or useful scammer information
When this route fits
Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov when the caller took your money, attempted to obtain payment, or when you have information about the scammer or company. This route is appropriate even if the call ended before a payment was completed, provided you have meaningful details about the attempted fraud.
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Describe the request, the amount paid or exposed, the payment method, and any company, website, callback number, account name, or other identifying information the caller gave you. Add the receiving number, caller-ID value, and timing from your notes. If caller ID may have been spoofed, say so rather than presenting it as the actual source.
An FTC fraud report is an information submission, not a promise of a personal investigation or refund. Keep separate records of payment confirmations, bank or card contacts, and account-security actions you take after the call.
File an FCC complaint for unwanted calls, robocalls, and spoofing
Start at the FCC complaint center
The FCC complaint center accepts complaints about unwanted calls and robocalls. Select the issue that best matches the event and provide the call details you recorded. If your own number is being spoofed, blocked, or labeled as potential spam, use the separate issue path labeled “my own number is being spoofed.”
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- This is the latest version Telephone Call Blocker with hidden or unavailable call numbers can be blocked. And there is no fees to use it; Please keep the manual for future use.
- Block up to 4000 individual phone numbers, including incoming and outgoing calls , prefixes and up to 10 digit area codes.
- One-touch to Block: Locate a number and then press Block to add it to the blacklist.Better set the call blocker in series ( one end of it connected to your phone and another end to the PSTN telephone line); Though it can also be set up parallel, but not compatible with some phone systems.
- Permanent storage of the numbers in the blacklist even power is off or telephone line is plugged out.
- Battery free: It is line powered, no need battery. And it works with almost all single line telephones. If you find some numbers are blocked but you never mean to, then press Block and check your blacklist, then delete those numbers which like area codes or prefix numbers.
The FCC says: “We do not resolve individual unwanted call or text complaints, but your complaint provides valuable information that we use to inform policy decisions and as the basis of potential enforcement actions against those violating our rules.” In practical terms, the complaint contributes to enforcement and policy data rather than opening a guaranteed case for you.
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Enter unusual international caller-ID values correctly
If the displayed caller-ID number is international and does not fit the form’s usual number format, FCC guidance says to place it in the “Additional Information” field. Preserve the exact displayed value, including its country code or other characters, and explain that it came from caller ID.
Report your own number being spoofed
A spoofed personal or business number can cause other people to see your number when a scammer calls. It can also lead to return calls, blocking, or a “potential spam” label on your legitimate calls. The FCC’s dedicated complaint category lets you report this different problem instead of describing it only as an unwanted call received by you.
Ask your carrier about blocking and screening
What to ask for
Contact the carrier that provides the affected line and ask which call-blocking, call-labeling, and screening features are available for your plan and device. Ask whether a feature is included, whether it requires activation in an account portal or app, and how it handles suspected robocalls, unknown numbers, and calls that are incorrectly labeled.
There is no single carrier complaint workflow established for every provider. Do not assume that all carriers use the same short code, application, menu name, or escalation process. Use the support channel shown for your own plan and keep the carrier’s confirmation or ticket number if one is provided.
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- [ IMPORTANT NOTE 2 ] In BLOCK mode, there will STILL BE some new variant numbers bypassing the database making the phone ring, you NEED to manually set up to block them OR switch to FAMILY mode to let only the numbers in FAMILY LIST through. Please refer to the manual for the CORRECT SETTINGS.
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- Blocks INTERNATIONAL, PRIVATE/WITHHELD, and Out of Area numbers by default; users can SET to block the entire area code or changing numbers starting with a fixed number, such as 00, 800, 855, 999, 7324, 33626, 134567, etc.
Understand the limit of carrier tools
Blocking prevents a number or category from reaching you; screening may ask the caller to identify themselves or may send a suspected call to voicemail; labeling warns you without necessarily blocking the call. A spoofed caller can change numbers, so blocking one displayed number may not stop the next attempt. Carrier tools therefore complement, rather than replace, an FTC or FCC report.
Reporting, registration, and blocking are different actions
| Action | Who handles it | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Report a call | FTC or FCC | Adds information to complaint analysis, policy work, industry coordination, or possible enforcement. |
| Register a number | National Do Not Call Registry | Asks legitimate compliant telemarketers not to call; effectiveness can take up to 31 days. |
| Block or screen a call | Carrier, phone, or call-screening service | Changes how calls are delivered, labeled, diverted, or rejected on your line. |
The Registry is not a call blocker and does not stop scammers making illegal calls. A report does not automatically activate a carrier feature, and a carrier block does not send the call details to federal authorities.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Set realistic expectations after submitting a report
What the FTC can do with reports
The FTC says it receives millions of reports and cannot answer each person individually. It uses the information to identify patterns and shares reported numbers with carriers and other industry partners working on call blocking and call labeling. A report may therefore help broader disruption efforts without producing a message, case number, or immediate change for the person who submitted it.
What the FCC can do with complaints
The FCC uses unwanted-call complaints to inform policy decisions and as a basis for potential enforcement against parties that violate its rules. Its published guidance expressly says that it does not resolve individual unwanted-call or text complaints. Do not promise that an FCC filing will identify the caller, return money, or stop calls immediately.
Why calls can continue
Scammers can rotate numbers, falsify caller ID, and ignore the National Do Not Call Registry. A complaint records the event; it does not create a universal block across every carrier and device. Continue using carrier or device screening while reporting repeated incidents.
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- REDUCE UNWANTED CALLS & TAKE BACK CONTROL – The CPR V100K helps reduce unwanted spam, scam and robocalls on your landline. Known nuisance numbers in the preloaded database are blocked automatically, while new unwanted callers can be blocked at the touch of a button.
- 100,000 KNOWN NUISANCE NUMBERS PRELOADED – Includes a large database of known nuisance numbers for immediate protection. The database contains reported nuisance numbers from across the USA and is not a list of 100,000 numbers specific to your local area.
- BLOCK NEW CALLERS WITH ONE TOUCH – Scam callers frequently change or spoof their phone numbers, so no call blocker can stop every unwanted call automatically. When a new unwanted number gets through, simply press the large red BLOCK NOW button to prevent repeat calls from that number. Store up to 10,000 additional numbers.
- SIMPLE TO USE – NO APP OR SUBSCRIPTION – Connect the V100K to your compatible landline and start taking control of unwanted calls. No app, Wi-Fi, monthly subscription or external power supply required. The large display and tactile BLOCK NOW button make it particularly easy to use.
- IMPORTANT COMPATIBILITY INFORMATION – Requires an active Caller ID service. Designed for compatible traditional analog landline services. Not compatible with many internet-based or digital VoIP telephone services. Please check your telephone service before ordering.
Common situations and the correct response
A prerecorded sales message
Record the receiving number, displayed caller ID, any callback number, and timing. Submit the event to DoNotCall.gov when there was no loss. If it was a robocall or involved suspicious spoofing, also file an FCC complaint and ask your carrier about screening.
A caller impersonating a bank, government office, or company
Treat the caller-ID name and number as unverified. Note what identity the caller claimed, what payment or information was requested, and where the caller directed you. Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov when you lost money or have useful information about the claimed company or scammer. An FCC complaint can document the unwanted or spoofed calling behavior.
A call that displayed your own number
Record the event as caller-ID spoofing and use the FCC issue path for “my own number is being spoofed.” Ask your carrier whether it offers a process for correcting an incorrect spam label on outgoing calls. Keep examples of dates and displayed numbers so the carrier can distinguish a labeling problem from a single incoming scam.
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A legitimate telemarketer that keeps calling
Confirm that your number is registered on the National Do Not Call Registry. Allow up to 31 days after registration for it to take effect. Report continued unwanted legitimate sales calls through DoNotCall.gov, while remembering that registration does not bind scammers and does not technically block calls.
A call with a foreign-format number
Preserve the number exactly as shown. In an FCC complaint, place a value that does not fit the form’s usual number format in “Additional Information,” as FCC instructions direct. Explain that the value was displayed on caller ID and may not identify the true caller.
A practical reporting checklist
- Leave the call history or voicemail intact until you have copied the details.
- Write down the number that received the call, the caller-ID number or label, any callback number, and the date and time.
- Describe the request and record whether money or personal information was involved.
- Choose DoNotCall.gov for an unwanted call without a reported loss.
- Choose ReportFraud.ftc.gov for a financial loss or information about a scammer or company.
- Use the FCC complaint center for unwanted calls, robocalls, caller-ID spoofing, or your own number being spoofed.
- Ask your carrier which blocking, labeling, and screening options apply to your plan and device.
- Keep copies of submitted details and any carrier support reference, but do not expect an automatic individual response from the FTC or FCC.
U.S. scope and changing details
The routes in this guide are U.S. federal options. A carrier’s support path, feature names, and availability depend on the provider, plan, device, and location. FCC form labels and agency procedures can change, so follow the current wording displayed in the linked forms. If you are outside the United States, use your national telecommunications regulator, consumer-protection agency, and carrier’s local process instead of assuming these federal forms apply.
What the latest Registry figures mean
In its January 2026 biennial report, the FTC said that more than 258 million telephone numbers were on the National Do Not Call Registry at the end of fiscal year 2025, and that it received more than 2.6 million Do Not Call complaints in fiscal year 2025. Those figures count registered numbers and complaints; they are not counts of scam calls or people who lost money. The scale shows why individual reports are useful as pattern data even when an agency does not reply to each filer.
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