Spam and robocalls are huge problems that never seem to go away. And while the FCC tried to kill spam calls last year, it failed. It’s safe to say that we still get way too many spam calls, robocalls, political ads and surveys, but Verizon’s latest Call Filter update seems to give users some control back.
Last year, Verizon updated its popular Call Filter app and service to block numbers that look similar to yours or ones with the same area code. And while that’s great, sometimes these types of apps can block calls from a number you might need to answer.
Today, Verizon announced a new update to its Call Filter app called “Caller ID categories” that will put us back in control. You’ll still notice a considerable decrease in robocalls, as the app actively blocks and shuts down all the unwanted junk we get daily.
Now, when Verizon Call Filter recognizes a call from a verified business that’s not saved to your contacts, if the system detects it’s an actual number, you’ll get a caller ID box displaying one of several different categories. That way, you can choose to answer a call from a “healthcare” or “public services” number instead of sending it to voicemail.
Verizon says the Call Filter app is now more sophisticated than ever, and you’ll see category tags for potential spam. These categories include “healthcare,” “public service,” “telemarketer,” “nonprofit,” “political,” and “surveys.” From here, you can avoid that frustrating political survey that calls every other day or answer a call from your local water or power company.
Basically, it sounds like robocalls will remain a problem. Still, you’ll at least be able to enable or disable certain categories and potentially answer the few calls you do want to deal with.
The Call Filter app is free for all Verizon customers and has several features. However, you’ll need to pay $4 monthly for Call Filter Plus to get features like this new caller ID system, spam lookup, block lists, and Verizon’s spam risk meter.
Download Verizon’s Call Filter app today and get rid of some robocalls.
