Huge update! Calls from unknown numbers finally meet their match

If you're like most Australians over 60, you've probably stopped answering calls from unknown numbers altogether. Between the fake tax office calls, the dodgy energy suppliers, and those persistent scammers claiming your computer has a virus, it's simply not worth the risk.

Well, technology has finally caught up with common sense. Both iPhone and Android phones now offer sophisticated call screening features that let your device handle those dodgy calls for you—and the results are genuinely impressive.

What exactly is call screening?

Think of call screening as having a very polite, very patient digital secretary who never gets tired of dealing with nuisance callers.

When someone calls from a number not in your contacts, your phone automatically answers and asks the caller to identify themselves and state their reason for calling.

Your phone then shows you their response on screen, letting you decide whether to take the call or send it to voicemail.

The beauty of this system? If the caller doesn't say anything, your phone won't even ring. That's particularly effective against robocalls, which often hang up when they don't get an immediate human response.

The iPhone experience with iOS 26

Apple's new Call Screening feature in iOS 26 builds on their existing Live Voicemail technology, gathering information from callers before your phone even rings.

When activated, your iPhone silently answers calls from unsaved phone numbers, asking the caller to state their name and reason for calling, then displaying a live transcript of their response so you can decide whether to answer.

The setup process is straightforward:

• Go to Settings on your iPhone
  
• Scroll to Phone
  
• Tap 'Screen Unknown Callers'
  
• Choose 'Ask Reason for Calling'

The good news is that call screening works on any phone capable of running iOS 26—it's not tied to Apple Intelligence, so even older iPhones can benefit. This includes iPhone 11 and newer models.

How Android users can join the party

Android users have actually had this capability longer than iPhone users. Google's Call Screen is now available manually or automatically in Australia, Canada, and Ireland, with beta testing beginning in India.

To enable Call Screen on your Android phone:

• Open the Phone app
  
• Tap the three dots menu
  
• Select Settings
  
• Choose 'Spam and Call Screen'
  
• Toggle Call Screen on
  
• Select your preferred protection level

Why this matters for Australian seniors

The timing couldn't be better. While scam losses dropped to $2 billion in 2024 (down from the peak of $3.1 billion in 2022), Australians are still losing significant amounts to phone scammers. These new call screening features provide a crucial first line of defence.

The feature is particularly valuable for protecting against 'grandchild in jail' scams and similar emotional manipulation tactics.

When you can read a transcript of what the caller is saying before answering, you're less likely to be caught off guard by high-pressure tactics.

More protection beyond call screening

While you're updating your phone's security settings, consider these additional features:

iPhone users should explore:

• The Passwords app for managing login details securely
  
• Hide My Email for protecting your real email address online
  
• Stolen Device Protection for additional security if your phone is taken

All users should:

• Keep your phone's operating system updated
  
• Save legitimate numbers as contacts to avoid screening important calls
  
• Consider whether 'Silence Unknown Callers' might be more appropriate for your needs

Real-world considerations

Call screening isn't perfect. Callers don't actually need to provide their name and reason—they could simply say 'hello' and the call will still ring through. However, many robocalls and scammers will hang up rather than engage with the screening system at all.

There's also the question of social etiquette. If you haven't saved someone's number but they're calling you legitimately, they might find the screening process a bit impersonal. However, most people understand the need for protection against scam calls these days.

The future of phone protection

Samsung is reportedly developing similar automatic call screening features for its Galaxy phones, suggesting this technology will become standard across all smartphone platforms.

As artificial intelligence improves, we can expect even more sophisticated protection against scammers.

The best part about call screening is that it works quietly in the background. Once you've set it up, you can go about your daily routine knowing that your phone is helping to filter out the time-wasters and potential scammers.

It's not foolproof, but it's a significant improvement over the old approach of either answering everything or missing important calls.

Have you tried call screening on your phone? What's been your experience with managing unwanted calls? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below.