Dealing with scam calls can feel like an everyday battle. The phone rings, you answer, and suddenly, you’re bombarded with offers or—worse—tricked into sharing personal details. Consequently, with scammers growing more sophisticated by the day, automatic call blocking has become a must. So, at Phonely, we’re taking scam protection to the next level, and the best part? Our automatic call blocking feature is included in all our packages, free of charge.

In this blog, we’ll break down why automatic call blocking is essential, how Phonely’s service stacks up against competitors like BT, Sky Shield and Truecall, and reveal why real-time protection is the future of scam prevention.

Why automatic call blocking matters

Scam calls aren’t just annoying—they’re dangerous. They can lead to financial loss, emotional stress, and in the case of vulnerable groups like the elderly, a real fear of answering the phone. According to a 2023 report by UKFinance, financial fraud costs older Britons over £1 billion each year, with phone scams making up a significant portion of these crimes.

Scammers have become cleverer, often changing their numbers daily using technology like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to bypass outdated call-blocking systems. Traditional methods of blocking numbers are no longer effective because they take too long to update blocked lists. This is where automatic call blocking comes in—protection that’s updated in real-time, stopping scammers before they can even reach you.

How Phonely’s automatic call blocking works

Phonely offers free, real-time, dynamic protection against scam calls. It actively blocks numbers reported as fraudulent or suspicious and updates its database every hour. In fact, once a number is flagged, it takes less than 60 minutes for it to be blocked across all Phonely users.

Our Who Called Me page plays a huge part in this. Members of the public can report nuisance numbers directly, and once verified, those numbers are blocked for all Phonely customers. It’s a crowdsourced, community-driven approach to keeping people safe.

Plus, we’re always one step ahead. Our anti-fraud introduction feature, available on the Callguard plan informs suspicious callers that their conversation will be recorded and monitored. This immediately discourages scammers, forcing them to drop the call before they even reach you.

Comparing Phonely to other call blockers

Now, let’s compare Phonely to the competition. While several services claim to offer robust scam protection, not all are created equal. Here’s how Phonely’s automatic call blocking stacks up:

As you can see, Phonely offers real-time protection that others simply can’t match. BT’s Call Guardian and Sky Shield require manual updates or third-party approvals, meaning they’re not equipped to handle constantly changing scam tactics. Truecall relies heavily on user input and is primarily a paid service separate from a phone provider, making it less accessible.

The cost of scams to the UK public

Phone scams are a serious problem in the UK, with financial losses reaching staggering levels. According to Ofcom, scam calls cost the public £3 billion each year. And while the financial toll is significant, the emotional impact can be just as damaging. Scams often target the elderly and vulnerable, causing them to lose not only money but also confidence in their ability to protect themselves.

At Phonely, we believe that no one should have to face the fear of answering their phone. That’s why we include automatic call blocking in all our packages, offering peace of mind without the extra cost.

The devastating impact of scams on the elderly

Phone scams aren’t just about financial losses—they can have a severe emotional and psychological impact on elderly victims. Scammers often target older adults, taking advantage of their trust, memory issues, or social isolation. According to Age UK, an elderly person in the UK becomes a victim of fraud every 40 seconds, highlighting the scale of this issue.

Financial loss among elderly scam victims

The financial toll of scams on the elderly is staggering. The analysis reported by Money Wellness shows that elderly fraud victims in the UK lose an estimated £1 million per day to scams, amounting to £417 million in 2021. Of course, this financial burden can be devastating for retirees, many of whom live on fixed incomes. Moreover, in severe cases, victims may lose their life savings, creating long-term financial insecurity.

These losses aren’t just numbers—they have a profound impact on the lives of the elderly, who may struggle to recover financially. Unlike younger generations, who may have time to rebuild their savings, older adults are left with few options, increasing their dependence on family members or social services for financial support.

Emotional and psychological effects of scams

The emotional consequences of becoming a victim of scams can be just as damaging as the financial loss. Many older adults feel ashamed or embarrassed after being scammed, leading to a decline in self-esteem and mental health and wellbeing. The stress from scams can trigger anxiety and depression, especially if the victim blames themselves for falling for the scheme.

Psychologists have pointed out that older adults may be more vulnerable to scams due to changes in cognitive function, such as memory decline, which makes them more susceptible to manipulation. Scammers know how to exploit these vulnerabilities, using high-pressure tactics and emotional manipulation. In some cases, scam victims may even develop post-traumatic stress, further deteriorating their well-being.

The impact of scams can extend beyond the individual, affecting their families and caregivers. Family members often experience guilt for not being able to prevent the scam, while caregivers may face an increased burden in supporting the emotional and financial recovery of the victim.

Social isolation and its role in making the elderly vulnerable

Scammers often target older adults because of their social isolation. Many elderly people live alone or are separated from their families, making them more trusting of phone calls or unsolicited contact. They may be more likely to answer the phone and engage with the caller, increasing their risk of being susceptible to a scam.

Fraudsters are adept at exploiting this isolation by posing as friendly or helpful individuals, often claiming to represent trusted organisations like banks, utilities, or even family members. This tactic plays on the emotional need for connection, making the scam seem more legitimate.

Why real-time protection matters

Scammers are constantly evolving, and so should your protection. With traditional call-blocking services, it can take weeks to update blocked number lists, from third-party sources, leaving you exposed to new threats. Phonely’s automatic call blocking system updates hourly, ensuring that scam numbers are blocked as soon as they’re reported.

Real-time protection is crucial because scammers frequently change their tactics, including using spoofed or VoIP numbers. Without up-to-date blocking, you’re left vulnerable to the latest scams. Phonely’s automatic call blocking is designed to protect against this ever-evolving threat, keeping you one step ahead.

Phonely’s free scam protection

One of the biggest advantages of Phonely’s service is that automatic call blocking comes at no extra cost. Even in our most basic digital voice package, which starts at just £9.97 per month, you get access to this unique protection. Unlike other providers, who charge extra for similar features, we believe that scam protection should be available to everyone.

How Phonely helps stop scammers in their tracks

Phonely’s Who Called Me page is a critical tool in the fight against scammers. By allowing users to report nuisance or suspicious numbers, we create a database of scam numbers that’s updated in real-time. This allows us to block scam calls faster than any other service on the market.

With the addition of CallGuard, Phonely customers can block their own numbers. Our intelligent system will filter out the most commonly blocked numbers and add those to our centralised block list, too. This is done daily and offers even more up-to-date protection to Phonely customers.

The anti-fraud introduction feature also acts as a strong deterrent. It plays a pre-recorded message to suspicious callers, forcing scammers to abandon their attempts before they reach you. This proactive approach not only protects you from robocalls but also helps us gather data to improve scam-blocking efforts across the board.

FAQs

What are robocalls?

Robocalls are automated calls which usually deliver a message. However, they can also form the basis of a scam. The Robokiller app can help block robocalls to your mobile and Phonely’s anti-fraud intro can prevent them on your landline.

How do I stop spam calls?

Phonely’s automatic call blocking feature stops spam calls in their tracks, blocking suspicious numbers in real-time.

What is a scam blocker?

A scam blocker prevents known scam and spam numbers from reaching you by automatically identifying and blocking them.

Can I block unwanted calls automatically?

Yes, with any Phonely plan, you can automatically block unwanted calls without needing to approve or update lists manually.

How do I block nuisance calls?

Phonely’s anti-fraud introduction discourages nuisance calls before they even reach you, keeping your phone free from unwanted interruptions. Alternatively, you can join the TPS for free to stop unwanted sales and marketing calls from reaching you.

Conclusion: Phonely is your best defence against scams

Phone scams are getting more frequent and more sophisticated, but you don’t have to be a victim. With Phonely’s automatic call blocking, you get real-time protection that’s free, easy to use, and highly effective. Our CallGuard service, combined with features like the Who Called Me page and anti-fraud introductions, ensures that you’re always one step ahead of the scammers.

Whether you’re elderly, vulnerable, or just too busy to deal with nuisance calls, Phonely offers the most comprehensive scam protection available today. And the best part? It’s included in all our plans, even the most affordable ones.

Switch to Phonely today and enjoy peace of mind with automatic call blocking that works when you need it most.