Soon after you move to the U.S., you'll notice one annoying thing: there are a lot of scam calls!
Whether they pose as a bank, a government agency or an insurance company, these calls often catch newcomers off guard. Fortunately, there are now many call-filtering apps that can block them, so you can live with peace of mind.
📌 Why do you need a call-filtering app?
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Millions of scam and spam calls are made in the U.S. every day.
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Newcomers are often targeted because they're not yet familiar with the language or the system.
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If you fall for one, you could leak personal information or even lose money.
The fix: install a call-filtering app such as Hiya or Truecaller!
📌 Hiya's main features
According to its Google Play listing:
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Real-time identification and blocking of scam calls: shows warnings such as "Spam" and "Scam Likely."
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Community database: users report suspicious numbers, so the block list updates quickly.
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Visual voicemail: turns voice messages into text and blocks suspicious messages.
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Hiya AI Phone (latest version):
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AI-powered screening and real-time protection
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Detects deepfake voices
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Automatically generates call summaries and can save conversation records offline
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📌 Other popular call-filtering apps
Besides Hiya, Truecaller and similar apps are also popular. They use:
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A global number database + AI models
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Analysis of billions of calls every month
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Detection of robocalls and spoofed numbers
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Support for custom block lists (area-code filtering, blocking hidden numbers)
This gives users more flexible ways to protect their calls.
📌 How to download and set up
1️⃣ Go to the App Store or Google Play and search for "Hiya."
2️⃣ After installing, grant access to your calls and contacts so it can screen incoming calls.
3️⃣ Some features require a paid subscription, so try the free version first before deciding.
4️⃣ Once it's turned on, it automatically detects and filters suspicious calls.
⚠️ Tip: Read the privacy policy carefully and avoid granting more permissions than necessary.
📌 Official advice and resources
According to the FCC's official website:
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Most phone carriers already have built-in spam call filtering.
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Suspicious calls may be sent straight to voicemail or show up as "Scam Likely."
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Consumers are advised to combine this with a third-party app or your phone's built-in features for an extra layer of protection.
📌 Bottom Line
For newcomers, a call-filtering app is a must-have tool.
Whether you use Hiya, Truecaller or your carrier's built-in service, the key is to keep the database updated so your protection stays current. It's also a good idea to share this with your family so no one falls victim to a scam.
With these tools, you can greatly cut down on scam calls and live in the U.S. with peace of mind! 🚀