Here are 5 options for keeping unwanted callers from getting your number.

You probably didn't use your smartphone to make a lot of phone calls before the pandemic hit full force, especially before you had to. Now that we are seeking more personal connections while adhering to social distancing guidelines, carriers are reporting surges in the number of calls they are receiving.

Did you know that in addition to using your desktop or laptop computer, you can also make phone calls using your tablet?

It's not necessary or even smart to give out your number to everyone you talk to. You get to decide what to do here.

You can conceal your phone number by dialing *67.

*67 is the most effective way to conceal your phone number on a per-call basis. This strategy is applicable to both mobile and land-based phones. When you want to call a specific number, open the keypad on your phone, dial * 6 7 followed by the number, and so on.

The free service will conceal your phone number, which will be displayed as "Private" or "Blocked" on the caller ID of the person on the receiving end of the call. In order to block your number, you will need to dial *67 each time you want to do so.

On iOS and Android, blocking your number is the default setting.

If you have an iPhone or an Android device, you can automatically block your number by adjusting one straightforward setting on your device. Your phone number won't be revealed on any of the calls you make using it.

To prevent calls from your number from being received on your iPhone:

1. Navigate to Settings and select Phone.

2. Activate the Show My Caller ID button.

3. To display or conceal your number, use the toggle switch as described above.

Please take note that this function is not supported by Verizon Wireless; however, in the following step, I will demonstrate how you can work around this limitation.

To prevent someone from calling you on Android:

1. Launch the Phone app, and then select Settings from the menu.

2. Go to your phone's menu and select Settings, then Call settings

3. Navigate to the Additional settings menu and select Caller ID.

4. Select "Hide number," and your contact information will be concealed.

Select "Show number" or "Network default" from the menu on your Android device to disable this feature.

In the event that your call is momentarily declined, you can also use the code *82 to temporarily unblock your number. The use of this code will assist you in evading the filter that is applied by certain users and providers, as they will automatically block private numbers.

Blocking your phone number is one of the most effective ways to stop annoying robocalls. Have you observed a decrease over the past 30 days? Very soon, there will be an increase in the number of robocalls.

Make sure your phone number is blocked by contacting your carrier.

It is a hassle to block calls on a per-call basis, and the process for blocking your phone number varies depending on the type of device you use. That is where the assistance of your wireless carrier can come in handy.

Request that your telecommunications provider blocks all outgoing calls if you are using a different type of phone or if you want the lines on your account to remain private.

Simply dial 611 to connect with your service provider. Make certain that you tell the recording that you want to speak to "customer support" or "technical support." When you call certain carriers' lines, you may be automatically transferred to the department that handles billing.

In the event that you experience call rejection after your carrier has assigned you a private number, you can still use the code *82. Following this step, your number will be temporarily unblocked on a call-by-call basis.

Calling your internet service provider while you are already on the line is perfectly acceptable. Here are seven things you can do to cut down on the cost of your monthly internet bill.

Use a burner app instead of dialing from your own number to avoid detection.

If you don't want to mess with the settings on your phone or with your carrier, you might want to look into getting a burner app instead. Because these applications use your phone's internet data to make phone calls, your phone will effectively have a second number that it can use.

There are hundreds of different apps that function as burners that you can download on iOS or Android, but the three that I've listed here are my favorites.

Burner is, for all intents and purposes, one of the most popular applications available for mobile devices running iOS and Android. Because the app allows you to forward your calls directly to your secondary number, you won't even have to bother trying to conceal the fact that you have it if you use it. The application includes a free trial period of seven days, after which it will cost $5 per line, per month.

Hushed is not free, but it is significantly less expensive than many of its rivals. You can send 60 texts and make 20 phone calls for the low price of just $2 per week. You can cancel at any time Even on the most basic plan, users of Hushed are able to communicate with one another for no additional cost. An unlimited plan with a monthly fee of $5 is also available.

You are able to select a new phone number through the use of Google Voice, which enables you to make free voice calls, text messages, and audio messages. An active Google account is all that is required to get things rolling for you.

With Google Voice, in contrast to the other options, you won't be responsible for paying a regular fee. It makes use of the minutes and data you already have on your phone, but the number that displays will be your Google Voice number.

You should also exercise control over your landline.

There are many helpful codes that can assist you in controlling your privacy, regardless of whether you are using a mobile phone or a landline.

The following is a list of some of the "star codes" that are most frequently used with touch-tone keypads:

• Traces the number of the most recent incoming call that was received when you press the *57 key. Useful in situations where the call justifies legal action
• *60 is the Call Block feature, which blocks incoming calls from specific phone numbers and plays a recording that informs callers that you are unavailable to take their calls.
• Caller ID Blocking with the *67 code hides your number from other people's Caller ID systems.
• Call Return, also known as *69, redials the most recent number that called you.
• *70 is the Call Waiting code, which puts the current call on hold so you can take another call.
• You can forward your call to another phone number by dialing *72, which is the Call Forwarding code.
• Calls from private callers are blocked when you dial the code *77, which stands for Anonymous Call Rejection.
• *80 Will Turn Off Call Blocking (*60).
• To disable the Caller ID block, dial *82 followed by *67.
• Disabling Anonymous Call Rejection (*77) can be done by dialing *87.

Bonus: Find out if someone is trying to block your phone number.

You try dialing once more, but there is still no response. You appear to be aggravated. Perhaps you're feeling a little on edge right now. What exactly is happening? It's possible that the person you're trying to get in touch with forgot his phone, or that the battery is dead, or that he has it set to silent, or that for some reason he has turned it off.

There's also the possibility that he intentionally or accidentally blocked your number. If someone blocks your calls, you won't receive any official notification of it, but you can make an educated guess about it.

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