Take Back Your Phone: How to Reduce Spam and Stay Protected
Down here in Louisiana, we love a good chat with our neighbors. But these days, it feels like half the rings on our phones aren’t family or friends—they’re scammers, robocalls, and junk we never asked for.
If you feel like you’re getting more spam than legitimate calls, you aren’t alone. Between AI-generated voices and high-tech phishing, spammers are working harder than a crawfish boil in May. At Cajun Broadband, we want you to enjoy your digital life without the constant noise. Here’s how you can build a better defense.
Why the Spam Won’t Stop
Scammers use a "scatter-shot" approach. Once they get your number or email, they try every door.
Robocalls: These use automated recordings. In 2024, the FCC officially banned those eerie AI-generated voices used for scams.
Spam Texts: Often pretending to be your bank or a delivery service, they’re just fishing for your info.
Email Phishing: These try to trick you into clicking links that have no business being on your device.
Practical Steps to Silence the Noise
You don't have to just "grin and bear it." Use these tools to filter out the junk:
Put Your Phone to Work: Most carriers have built-in "Spam Risk" labels. On an iPhone, look for "Silence Unknown Callers." On Android/Google Phone, enable "Filter spam calls." It’s like having a bouncer for your smartphone.
The "Do Not Call" Registry: It won’t stop the outlaws, but it helps quiet the legitimate telemarketers. (https://www.donotcall.gov/)
Don’t Engage, Don’t Confirm: If a number looks "funny," don't answer. If you do pick up, don’t say "Yes" and don’t press any buttons. Scammers use those responses to verify your number is active—which just leads to more calls.
Use a "Spare" Number: For online signups or public forms, consider using a free service like Google Voice. Keep your "real" number for your family and close friends.
Report It: Marking a text as "Junk" helps carriers and the FCC track down the sources and shut them down for good.
New Protections for 2025
There is some good news! As of 2025, the FCC has new rules requiring U.S. providers to be more aggressive. Carriers are now required to block calls from suspicious or "do-not-originate" numbers before they even reach your pocket. These protections now extend to commercial text messages, too, giving you a little extra lagniappe (something extra) in your security.
The FCC also provides several tips and resources for consumers to help mitigate spam and even has a Robocall Response Team, all designed to help provide protection.
The Bottom Line: Layer Your Defenses
There’s no "silver bullet" to stop every single spammer, but when you combine carrier tools, smart habits, and a little vigilance, you can dramatically cut down the clutter.
At Cajun Broadband, we’re proud to keep our community connected—and we want those connections to be the ones that actually matter.