this post was submitted on 10 Aug 2023
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Hi all, through my experience, the third party apps that are supposed to do this a pure trash. I mean true caller was pretty decent, but it was packed with ads and trackers of course and the overbearing permissions that constantly tries hijacking my set SMS and dialer apps.... I don't think using a third party app is the right solution.

I came across an internet protocol called NCID which is network caller ID, which sounds quite interesting, but strangely there is little documentation and virtually no online community discussion about this.

So I'm wondering what are some good caller ID options available? I'm a private person and I like knowing who is calling also, would like to stop spam. I'm sure there's a whole world dedicated to this such stuff, but I can't seem to find the solution. And tips or advice or anything would be great. Thanks

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I just block everything that isn't in my phone book. I use an app that sends it to voice mail without showing on my screen, so it doesn't disturb me. I can turn it off anytime via the windowshade if I'm expecting a call.

If it's someone who actually has business with me, they'll leave a message, which my voicemail will transcribe and send to me quietly as a text notification. 90% of the time it's a scammer or solicitor I don't care about. Most of the rest are robo appointment reminders.

Do yourself a favor and don't answer any calls you're not expecting. You're just putting yourself on scammers' lists.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I use an app that sends it to voice mail without showing on my screen, so it doesn't disturb me.

What app?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I'd love for digital assistances to answer a phone, get a call back number and extension, then call the caller back, then connect me. This would force the caller to both be contactable (no scammers, no call centers), and make them very invested in talking to me.

I can think of very few reasons someone wouldn't leave a message/voicemail when calling, but those people would be ok with 'Press 1 to have us call you back at your number'->1->'Ok, the digital assistant will call you back in a moment'. disconnect, ring 'This is the digital assistant you just called, please press 3+2 to ring out to the person your trying to contact' #5... my phone finally rings....

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yea almost never answer calls I don't know. I usually google them too, but figured there's an easier solution to all of this

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (5 children)

The google phone app honestly. I'm sure they already know your calls through play services.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I've heard its good, but I'm honestly trying to ween off of google lol

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

The google phone app honestly. I'm sure they already know your calls through play services.

that's not an acceptable excuse to post on a privacy community

[–] IDontKnow 3 points 1 year ago

Android 14 has additional options as well.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Using the google phone app is better than using Truecaller

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

But its still the overlord google though... I've been trying to stay away from google as much as possible lately

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have my gripes with Google, but their screen calling feature is very handy.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can't help you with caller id, but Silence has several options for call blocking. I have it set to only allow calls from contacts and calls passing stir/shaken verification. Occasionally calls from businesses that use a single outward facing number will get blocked.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sounds interesting. What exactly is stir shaken? I've recently come across that term

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's basically a method of verifying the call originated from the number shown in the caller id. The scammers and spammers using voip phones often spoof their caller id to appear legitimate. In doing so they fail that verification. Like I mentioned, sometimes there are false positives, but you can always add the number to your contacts to let the call through. https://www.fcc.gov/call-authentication

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Ohhh OK so hypothetically if it passess stir shaken, then it should reveal the caller I'd name info too right?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

With increasing frequency; spam calls spoof their caller ID to be a number/business/organization local to you which isn't linked to them. Either to masquerade as a familiar name as part of the scam or just so blocking or calling back is pointless.

Filtering that is next to impossible unless you just use a whitelist of acceptable callers.

It's a broken system.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Damn that's disheartening to hear. I read that is actually illegal for spammers or robocallers to do (the spoofing), but clearly they don't abide

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I mean... Scamming people is illegal too...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yea of course lol I guess I meant to say telemarketers, which are basically the same to me

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I use "Yet Another Call Blocker" on F-Droid. Works great.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

My worry is that it hasn't been updated in a while so it may be abandoned... But I'm not saavy enough to know such things

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've been using this app for about a year. Its been working well so far, but I frequently don't receive spam calls.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I use Should i answer? and it works great.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I don't know how effective it truly is a far as privacy goes, but I use the Scam Block app that T-Mobile provides, and DuckDuckGo's App Tracking Protection blocks tracking attempts from all my apps, including Scam Block.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We still have a home phone and pretty much do not give out our cell number. So we get very few junk cell calls.

One thing I have been thinking. One way to block a lot of calls is have a phone number in an area code that you do not know anyone. Then block that entire area code and those around it if needed. Most of our junk calls come from the area code of the phone number.

Like others have said the most effective is to send everything to voice mail except what you white list. We do not do that but maybe we will get there.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Not a bad idea, but maybe too restrictive for my taste. But then again, if its important they'd leave a voicemail. I'm also interested in unblocking blocked or unknown numbers. I was so surprised to see true caller had that ability. I didn't know it was possible

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

there is a good blocker on fdroid

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Kind of a useless post if you don't actually name the blocker.....

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

that is the only blocker on fdroid. just search blocker; dont worry i believe in you.