Is there any way to block phone numbers by PREFIX if I have root access? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I know apps like Truecaller have this feature. However, that is not going to work for me (you will see why below).
I am trying to end the telemarketing calls to my phone once and for all.
What I did was get a Youmail account and I set blocked numbers to get the 3 tone thing with a "number disconnected" message if they try to call me from a blocked number or a number that is on my block list. This will tell that number to stop bothering to call me since it is disconnected (that 3 tone beep at the beginning tells their machines my number is dead).
It is not helping me much though because I keep getting calls from numbers that have my area code and prefix, but a different last 4 digits every time. I guess it's a spoof to try and make it more likely that I will pick up. As you can see, blocking these numbers are worthless since there are 9,999 of them.
However, if I could tell Android to block any number like so: 212-585-**** , then I would never get one again.
Unfortunately when I block all numbers containing 212-585 in Truecaller, it does not send the calls to the "this number has been disconnected" greeting, it sends them to my standard one which is useless for this endeavor. Basically Truecaller doesn't really "block" numbers at an OS level like Android does. It just hits the ignore button really quickly (I still hear half a ring). That's why it goes to my "regular" voicemail instead of my "this number has been disconnected" voicemail.
Anyway I do have root if that makes a difference. I'd really like to see Android include this in an update, but until then, if anyone could give me any advice on if this can be done, it would be greatly appreciated. My phone is a Google Pixel on the latest update with root.

Related

restricted calls... anyway to do this

First, WITHOUT USING ANY 3RD PARTY APPS
If someone calls from a blocked/restricted number, is there any function in the Titan that would allow me to set it to not ring (or to only vibrate, or have a special ringer for only restricted calls)? I tried making a contact called restricted, but that didnt work.
Second, if the above is not possible, what are some 3rd party apps that I might try? I never pick up blocked calls, and I dont even want to hear it ring.
It's not exactly a 3rd party application, more like a service; check out www.youmail.com . If somebody with a blocked number calls me, it says "the number you are calling does not take calss from unidentified callers, please hang up and reveal your number."
rajuabju said:
First, WITHOUT USING ANY 3RD PARTY APPS
If someone calls from a blocked/restricted number, is there any function in the Titan that would allow me to set it to not ring (or to only vibrate, or have a special ringer for only restricted calls)? I tried making a contact called restricted, but that didnt work.
Second, if the above is not possible, what are some 3rd party apps that I might try? I never pick up blocked calls, and I dont even want to hear it ring.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ummm.... There has to be a million. Ok not that many but seriously There are even some that are developed on XDA! I could find that one though ;c(
Here is one that is pretty popular. Im sure others will chime in with there favorites too.
http://www.wm6software.net/communication/call_firewall.html
I could swear I had done this in the past.... But I cant figure it out now.
You can try Ringo... it might do the trick...
http://ringomo.com/windows.php
If you dont want to hear it ring... I recommend SPB Phone Suite...
It has a blacklist feature to ignore calls.. ignore and never ring.
Also it has a great today plugin for showing your vmail, unread messages.. etc (I recommend turning off the big buttons though.. the default look is ugly IMHO)
And my favorite feature, you can set the phone to vibrate, or silent for a period of time (5 mins, 15mins, 30 mins.. etc) This is a life saver since I often need to silence my phone for meetings, and then a few hours later I realize... I have 20 missed calls because I never set it back.
### Edit ###
I just set SPB Phone suite to blacklist "Private" calls.
I then blocked caller ID and called from my home phone... Nothing.. no ring, no flash, the phone ignored it.
It did ring on the callers end the normal number of rings before going to vmail... I.E. it didn't go right to vmail like when you hit ignore.
Superb. SPB Phone Suite does exactly what I want with regards to calls from blocked numbers.
Thanks!
kareem9nba said:
It's not exactly a 3rd party application, more like a service; check out www.youmail.com . If somebody with a blocked number calls me, it says "the number you are calling does not take calss from unidentified callers, please hang up and reveal your number."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This site is very slick. Thank you for sharing it.
To test ignoring calls I added my desk phone number to the block list. I called it up, my phone woke up, but never rang and didn't give a notice of a missed call. My desk phone was greeted with the message I left it on youmail.com which happened to be the default smart greeting. Very very cool to have this feature without installing a thing on my phone.

Atrix Call Reject option?

I'm coming from the Captivate, and the only option I'm really missing on the Atrix is the call reject feature. I want to be able to automatically reject calls from certain numbers and unknown numbers, can't find the option there anywhere.
I know I can use the 'silent rington' trick, but that's not idea and doesn't work with unknown numbers.
Any thoughts?
Are you asking to blacklist certain numbers, dismiss a call like with volume down, or have all calls for a period of time go straight to voicemail?
Blacklist numbers, I found an app for it though that I'm gonna try
Reject with Text
I was wondering something similar. With the Captivate and many other phones I had, there was an option to "Reject with Text." This was a nice feature I used every now and then. It seems that it is missing on the Atrix, does anyone know of an app or something that can do something similar?
I would suggest using Google Voice, which is free and open to anyone now.
You give out your GVoice number, and set GVoice to forward to your cell phone. No one ever needs to know your cell number direct, and if you change it..you just change the setting in GVoice.
GVoice allows you to actually block individual numbers--and generate specific responses to them! And you won't pay for the call, which would use cellular airtime if it was just your cell phone blocking it.
When editing a contact ---- under "Additional info" -> "Call handing" you can select "send strait to voicemail" .... however Mr. Number block is great for this by automatically blocking known spam by sending straight to voice mail or my favorite the "answer and hangup" tactic
The best solutions as stating before is Google voice as you can play a "this number is disconnected" or "the number you are calling does not accept unknown/blocked numbers" voice mail greeting.
Contacts > [Select a contact] > Additional Info > "Send straight to voicemail" [Check box]
I downloaded an app that works for me. The Contact thing is fine for numbers that you know, but not for unknown caller numbers.
I've tried Google Voice and wanted to like it, but its not my cup of tea.
It looks like the reject call feature and list is missing on this ROM, but not a big deal since there are apps to handle it.
AsSiMiLaTeD_77 said:
I downloaded an app that works for me. The Contact thing is fine for numbers that you know, but not for unknown caller numbers.
I've tried Google Voice and wanted to like it, but its not my cup of tea.
It looks like the reject call feature and list is missing on this ROM, but not a big deal since there are apps to handle it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reject call feature works perfectly...the reason they don't allow you to just block all unknown calls is because almost nobody would actually need that. What if your mother ends up being rushed to the hospital because of an accident and the police try calling your phone (the number she gives)? Police officers usually leave messages but what if he doesn't want to so he tries calling a few times and thinks your phone is off because it always goes directly to voicemail?
It's not that hard to just hit "Reject" when you get a phone call from an unknown number...
hotleadsingerguy said:
The reject call feature works perfectly...the reason they don't allow you to just block all unknown calls is because almost nobody would actually need that. What if your mother ends up being rushed to the hospital because of an accident and the police try calling your phone (the number she gives)? Police officers usually leave messages but what if he doesn't want to so he tries calling a few times and thinks your phone is off because it always goes directly to voicemail?
It's not that hard to just hit "Reject" when you get a phone call from an unknown number...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The police would not be calling from an 'Unknown' number, if the police are calling me I'd see a number displayed on the caller ID.
I've NEVER received a call from a number tagged as unknown or blocked that wasn't a telemarketer call.
The 'reject call' feature, as I've seen it implemented on MANY other Android phones in the settings menu, is MISSING on this phone. Its not that it doesn't work, its that it is missing (AFAIK anyway)
I agree that it is missing, I miss it too. I used it all the time for a few numbers that kept calling me and asking for random names. Seriously though the same number would call and each time ask for a different name. All i ever had to do before was enable auto reject and click "add to reject" when that number, or set of numbers called. Now I will have to add it to contacts and then reject it. Not a big deal, and good to know that I have an option.
soo in the end whats the name of the free program that can reject automatically the unknown callers? i need that 2.(the SGS+ had that feature and it was awsome, i really need it)

view blocked numbers? alternative to TrapCall

does anyone know any way to view private/withheld/unknown numbers? TrapCall does this, but its a monthly paid service.. does anyone have any other solutions?
I will love to get this app as well
Thank You
i didnt even know it was possible to hav an app that can reveal blocked numbers but wow how dodgey! being able to see all the blocked numbers VERY cool though would definately come in handy
sorry i cant answer your question
this explains all:
"TrapCall.com lets people rig some AT&T Inc. and T-Mobile USA phones so that if a call comes in with blocked Caller ID and is rejected, it rings again, this time displaying the number of the caller."
and this:
"Calls with blocked Caller ID have never been perfectly anonymous. Calls to 1-800 numbers are unmasked, for instance, because the recipient pays for the call. This appears to be the loophole used by TrapCall"
via
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29267785/
The World Of Whooming
It opens a new door for the mobile technology: the world of whooming. No more anonymous calls and prank calls cause this program is able to identify the number of person that on the phone display will appear as “anonymous”. All totally free and without particular effort. Firstly you must register and wait for the arrival of an anonymous call; when in arrives, simply press the red button to reject and immediately you will automatically be sent an e-mail that says the number of the caller. Thinks that this will make a clean break of anonymous calls, a problem that today has become increasingly especially in young people and women. Try to believe!

[Q] Incorrect phone number displayed in recent calls - outgoing

Since around the beginning of March I noticed that my phone is showing completely random numbers for all outgoing calls for people that I have in my contacts list. The numbers that it shows are not numbers that I have dialed or received calls from in the past. (If I long-press one of the dialed numbers, the "Call +***-***-****" line displays the correct number), so it seems to be more of an appearance issue. The numbers displayed seem to be consistent for the person I call. I do not remember making any changes around the time this started, but I did notice it about 1 week after it started, so I don't remember exactly.
The correct person is displayed, just a completely random number. When I called Verizon they had never heard of this issue, and the numbers it is displaying are not Verizon numbers. The area codes for the numbers are for completely different parts of the country.
The only dialing related program I have installed is Google Voice, but I am not making these calls using it.
Complete factory reset fixes it, but I don't want that so I did a nandroid restore afterwards. Clearing the recent calls list does not fix the issue.
See attachment for image of what it is doing. I would have linked it but apparently I need 8 more posts to do so.
Droid X2
Verizon
Android 2.3.4 Stock
Rooted: yes

[Q] Is there a call blocking app that plays the number is disconnected message?

I'm getting tired of these spam calls that are an obvious identity theft scheme... every time they call, it's a different number - calling back indicates the number doesn't exist. Asking to be removed from their calling list = they hang up and call you the next day.
I've had call blocking apps, they worked. But it's always a new number they use. I'm hoping if they hear my number is disconnected, they'll give up on me. But I want to block their many numbers so I don't have to deal with them... and I don't want other people to think I'm disconnected.
In a nutshell, what I want to happen is... They call, I add to block list, they call back from same number (because they do sometimes), they hear "this phone number has been disconnected." and I cross my fingers and toes that this prompts them to take me off the list. Worked telemarketing once before, this was a policy for that company - disconnected numbers get removed.
I had something like that. But I forget what I used. then again, I NEVER GIVE OUT MY REAL NUMBER and always use google voice. I NEVER get annoying calls. I think the one I used to use they started charging for.
Thanks. Maybe I'll find something.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA
Youmail, try it.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
Thanks. I'll give that a shot. I know that was initially a voicemail app, do you know if I have to enable the voicemail part?

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