It’s one thing to ignore spam calls from unfamiliar phone numbers, but when those numbers have the same area code as you, it becomes a game of chance.
The tactic, known as neighbor or neighborhood spoofing, is an easy way for scammers to trick people into answering their phone. Verizon has responded to the problem by adding a new Neighborhood Filter to its Call Filter app. It silences suspicious local calls and sends them directly to voicemail.
The feature prevents all calls—even legitimate ones—from area codes within your chosen neighborhoods, unless the number is saved in your handset. So conversations with friends and family will get through, but you won’t be bothered by fraudsters. If the filter intercepts calls you want to receive, it’s possible to select “Ignore Filter” to unblock individual contacts.
Verizon rolled out its Call Filter detection and blocking service in March 2019, alerting users when a call is likely spam, letting folks report unsolicited numbers, and automatically blocking robocalls based on your preferred level of risk. A paid version of the app (available for $2.99 per month for one line or $7.99 per month for three or more lines) also identifies unknown callers by name. Both are compatible with the new Neighborhood Filter, allowing free and Plus customers to deflect up to five or 10 additional area codes, respectively.
The telecom company also helps fight spoofed calls with the FCC’s STIR/SHAKEN protocols—now mandatory for all phone companies—which ensures calls haven’t been faked. It won’t stop illegal robocalls being made, but could drastically reduce the amount of spam reaching our phones.
