You’re at home relaxing or busy at work when the phone rings from an unknown number. You answer, thinking it might be important, but surprise: it’s a spam call.
These unwanted, often automated calls are usually designed to trick you into giving away personal information, sending money, or buying something.
They may come as robocalls, with pre-recorded messages, or spoofed calls, where the caller disguises their number to appear more trustworthy.
Spam calls have become so widespread that countries like Canada have launched campaigns to help people avoid them.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, for instance, advises users to register their residential, wireless, fax, or VoIP number on the National Do Not Call List (DNCL).
Fortunately, VoIP technology offers effective tools to block spam calls. Features like Interactive Voice Response (IVR) can act as a smart robocall filter, helping you stop spam before it reaches you.
How VoIP.ms Helps You Block Spam Calls
VoIP.ms offers powerful tools to help residential users take control of unwanted calls. One of the most effective features is IVR, which allows you to create a custom greeting and filter out spam and robocalls.
Let’s take a look at all of them:
- Use the Do Not Call List Registration
- Take Advantage of Call Filtering Options
- Voicemail for Unknown Callers
- Use CNAM to Identify Callers
- Bonus Tip: Use Sub Accounts to Manage Calls
1. Use the Do Not Call List Registration
One of the first steps to reduce spam calls is registering your VoIP number on the DNCL. This service is designed to block calls from known telemarketers and spam sources.
Once activated, most legitimate telemarketing organizations are required by law to stop calling your number, making it a strong first line of defense against unwanted calls.
2. Take advantage of Call Filtering options
VoIP.ms allows you to apply advanced call filtering rules to block or allow specific calls. You can create rules to filter incoming calls based on the number, area code, or even anonymous caller status.
Instead of following the default routing of your VoIP number, these filtered calls can be redirected in a variety of ways.
For example, if you’re getting repeated spam from a telemarketing company, you can route those calls to a custom recording that says, “That number is no longer in service. Please hang up and try again.” This deters robocallers and prevents future interruptions.
VoIP.ms prioritizes your filters smartly:
- Exact number matches take top priority
- Wildcard patterns (like entire area codes)
- The order of rules you’ve listed
This layered filtering system gives you powerful control to block or redirect spam calls before they reach you.
3. Voicemail for unknown callers
One smart way to manage unwanted calls is by sending unknown or suspicious numbers straight to voicemail. With VoIP.ms, you get access to a free and easy-to-use Advanced Voicemail feature that adds flexibility and control to your call handling.
To use it, simply create a voicemail box and assign it to your VoIP.ms number (DID) or account. Each mailbox can store up to 100 messages, with a maximum recording time of 5 minutes per message.
If the caller remains silent for 5 seconds, the recording will automatically stop, helping to avoid blank or spam voicemails.
4. Use CNAM to identify callers
Caller ID Name (CNAM) is a useful VoIP feature that shows not only the caller’s phone number but also their name (up to 15 characters) when a call comes in.
This means you can see both the number and a name, helping you quickly decide whether or not to answer.
By enabling CNAM lookup in your VoIP.ms account, you gain access to more information about who’s calling, making it easier to spot unknown numbers, robocallers, or spoofed IDs.
This added layer of identification can help reduce spam by giving you context before you pick up.
For residential users, CNAM adds peace of mind and convenience. Whether you’re trying to avoid telemarketers or simply want to know who’s calling before answering, CNAM is a simple but powerful way to take more control over your calls.
Related: What Is CNAM and How to Leverage It for Your Business?
Bonus Tip: Use sub accounts to manage calls
With VoIP.ms, you can create sub accounts to register multiple devices under the same main account. This means you can make or receive calls from different phones at the same time.
The tool is perfect for households with multiple users or for setting up internal extensions within your home or home office.
To protect your account balance and prevent unauthorized use, VoIP.ms gives you extra security options. In addition to standard username and password authentication, you can restrict sub accounts to work only from a specific static IP address.
This ensures that no one can make calls using that Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) account unless they are connected from your approved network.
You can easily create a Sub Account in VoIP.ms by following these steps:
- Log in to your VoIP.ms Customer Portal.
- Go to the “Sub Accounts” section in the main menu.
- Click on “Create Sub Account.”
- Enter a username for the sub account.
- Choose your preferred authentication method (username/password or IP address).
- Set up additional settings, such as codecs, caller ID, and voicemail preferences.
- Configure security options, like limiting access to a specific IP address.
- Save your settings and register the new sub account on your desired device.]
Learn more about Sub Accounts on our Wiki page!
For Businesses: Protecting Your Company from Spam Calls
Spam and robocalls don’t just affect individuals, they can seriously disrupt daily operations in a business environment.
For companies managing multiple numbers or departments, these interruptions can lead to wasted time, lost productivity, and even missed opportunities.
Fortunately, VoIP.ms offers business-ready tools that not only block spam but also strengthen your call handling system as a whole:
- Why It Matters for Business
- Advanced Tools You Can Use
- Build a Professional Image While Staying Secure
Why it matters for business
Spam calls are more than just an inconvenience, they cost your business in real ways:
- Wasted time: Employees are interrupted by robocalls, slowing down workflows and reducing focus.
- Distracted teams: Frequent unwanted calls cause frustration and lower morale.
- Missed real leads: Legitimate customer inquiries can be lost in the noise of constant spam.
For businesses that rely on inbound calls, such as sales, support, or service providers, spam can directly impact your bottom line. Reducing these interruptions helps you focus on real opportunities and maintain customer satisfaction.
Advanced tools you can use
VoIP.ms offers businesses a comprehensive set of powerful tools designed to defend against spam calls while optimizing overall call management and efficiency:
Ring groups
Distribute incoming calls evenly among team members to ensure no single person is overwhelmed. This setup guarantees full coverage during business hours and prevents delays in answering important calls, improving customer satisfaction.
IVR (Auto-Attendants)
Automatically screen incoming calls by requiring human interaction, such as pressing “1 to connect.” This effectively filters out robocalls and spam, which typically cannot respond to prompts, reducing interruptions and protecting your team’s time.
Time conditions
Control when and where calls are routed by setting specific schedules. This means calls arriving outside of business hours can be directed to voicemail or other destinations, keeping your team free from spam calls during off-hours.
Call forwarding strategies
Customize how calls are forwarded based on your business needs. Forward calls to backup lines, mobile phones, or voicemail according to pre-set rules, ensuring no legitimate call goes unanswered while minimizing exposure to spam.
SIP trunking
Centralize your entire call handling system by routing multiple Direct Inward Dialing (DID) numbers through a single, secure SIP trunk. This reduces the number of exposed endpoints, lowering the risk of spam targeting individual lines and simplifying your telephony infrastructure.
Together, these features give your business full control over how incoming calls are managed, making sure real customers connect with the right people quickly and efficiently, while reducing exposure to spam calls.
Related: Back to Basics: What is Elastic SIP Trunking?
Build a professional image while staying secure
Every missed or mishandled call is a missed opportunity, and repeated issues can negatively impact your company’s credibility.
In today’s fast-paced environment, customers expect quick, professional responses, and poor call management can make your business seem disorganized or unresponsive.
Call routing and filtering aren’t just about blocking spam; they’re essential tools for shaping a strong, trustworthy image and ensuring every interaction is handled with care.
Here’s how these features help your business stay secure and look professional:
- Maintain fast, professional responses to real callers: Automated call handling features ensure legitimate calls are answered promptly, even during high call volumes, creating a smooth and consistent customer experience.
- Route calls to the right department without delay: Intelligent routing eliminates confusion and reduces transfer times, helping callers reach the correct person or team quickly, boosting efficiency and satisfaction.
- Avoid dropped or unanswered calls from new prospects: Proper routing and overflow settings help ensure that important opportunities aren’t missed, especially during peak hours or staff absences.
By combining smart filtering with advanced routing options, your business appears more responsive, organized, and customer-focused, without sacrificing security or control.
Have Peace of Mind with VoIP.ms
Spam calls are more than just an annoyance. They can disrupt your day and affect your productivity or customer experience. With VoIP.ms, ongoing protection against spam is built right into your phone system.
Our powerful features like IVR filtering, call blocking, caller ID tools, and flexible call routing give you full control over your incoming calls. Whether you’re a homeowner or running a business, VoIP.ms helps you filter out unwanted calls while ensuring important contacts always get through.
Enjoy peace of mind knowing your phone system is actively defending you from spam 24/7. Plus, VoIP.ms’s customizable tools allow you to adjust settings anytime, giving you the flexibility and control you need to keep calls running smoothly.
Reach out to us at [email protected] to elevate your customer experience, improve productivity, and protect your team or family from daily disruptions with VoIP.ms.
Spam Call FAQ
Why am I getting so many VoIP calls?
Spam calls often target VoIP numbers because they are easier and cheaper to reach over the internet. Scammers use automated systems to call many numbers quickly, hoping some will respond.
What are spam calls?
Spam calls are unwanted or unsolicited phone calls, often automated (robocalls), designed to sell products, scam you, or steal personal information.
How often should we review and update our call-blocking strategies?
It’s best to review your call-blocking settings regularly, like every few months, to adapt to new spam tactics and ensure your filters remain effective.
What should I do if I receive a suspicious VoIP call?
Do not answer personal questions or provide sensitive information. Use your VoIP system’s features to block the number, report it if possible, and consider routing unknown callers to voicemail for screening.