TL;DR: Forward scam texts to 7726 in the US, and in India report suspicious calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages on Sanchar Saathi's Chakshu. The FTC says the Do Not Call Registry doesn't stop scammers, and call-blocking tools may only label calls.
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Blocking apps come and go, but the official reporting channels and the rules behind them stay stable. This guide covers both the US and India.
United States
The FTC says call-blocking apps, phone settings and carrier services can stop many scam and illegal robocalls before they reach you, that landlines need a call-blocking device, and that some services only label calls, for example "spam" or "scam likely". It says to report unwanted calls at DoNotCall.gov if you lost no money and at ReportFraud.ftc.gov if you lost money.
The FTC's Do Not Call Registry FAQ says registration never expires and can take up to 31 days to stop sales calls, but that the Registry does not block calls and will not stop scammers. It advises hanging up without pressing buttons. To report a spam text, the FTC says to forward it to 7726 (SPAM), which helps your carrier spot and block similar messages, or use in-app junk options or ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FCC takes complaints about unwanted calls and texts, and about your number being spoofed, but says it does not resolve individual complaints and uses them for enforcement.
India
TRAI's preference registration lets you choose categories, modes (voice, SMS, auto-dialer, robocalls), time bands and days, with registration channels including SMS or a call to 1909, IVRS, TRAI-approved apps and a web portal with OTP.
Sanchar Saathi's Chakshu takes reports of suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages received in the last 30 days. It does not handle cases where money has already been lost: those go to 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in. A PIB release lists 11 Chakshu fraud categories and says citizen inputs led to 39.43 lakh mobile connections being disconnected, 2.27 lakh handsets blacklisted and 1.31 lakh SMS templates blacklisted. The Sanchar Saathi portal also lists CEIR, to block lost or stolen phones by IMEI, and TAFCOP, to report unauthorised connections in your name. If you lost money, use the 1930 complaint guide.
Why calls increase
Numbers exposed in breaches and data broker listings attract spam. If calls come with a suspicious SIM change, see how to block a swapped SIM.
Caller ID and lookup apps
Truecaller's own pages could not be retrieved for this guide, so it makes no claim about how it works. Treat any caller ID or reverse lookup app as a data source in its own right: check what it collects and how to remove your number.
Tools protect accounts, but they cannot un-leak data that is already out. A free digital footprint check shows whether your email or number appears in exposed data.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report a scam text in the US?
Forward it to 7726 (SPAM), or report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, per the FTC.
Does the Do Not Call Registry stop scammers?
No. The FTC says it does not block calls and will not stop scammers, and registration can take up to 31 days to stop sales calls.
What is Chakshu?
A Sanchar Saathi facility for reporting suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages received in the last 30 days. It does not handle cases with financial loss.
Where do I report fraud if I already lost money in India?
1930 or cybercrime.gov.in, as Sanchar Saathi directs.
How do I set TRAI preferences?
Through SMS or a call to 1909, IVRS, TRAI-approved apps or the web portal with OTP, per TRAI.
Sources
- FTC – How to block unwanted calls
- FTC – Report spam text messages
- FTC – National Do Not Call Registry FAQs
- FCC – Unwanted calls and texts
- TRAI – Preference registration
- Sanchar Saathi – Chakshu
- PIB – Chakshu results