How can I keep my phone number private?

Phone scams are increasingly more common. This is why it is important not to hand over your phone number to too many different companies, as you don't know who else they will give your phone number to. Here are some general guidelines: 

• Do not provide your phone number to companies, unless you really really have to. 
• To prevent any unknown marketing companies from calling you, on either your cell phone or your home phone, you can register your phone with the national Do Not Call Registry. To do so, click here.
• Block any unkonwn phone numbers from scam callers.  To do so, follow the steps below for your device. 

To block phone numbers on your iPhone, follow these steps: 

1.  Open your Phone app (the green square with the white phone inside)
2. Press Recents 
3. Find the unknown phone number and press the i to the right 
4. Scroll down and press Block this Caller
5. To find all of your blocked phone numbers, go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification. If you wish to remove a number press Edit and remove it by pressing the red circle in front of the number. 

Instructions for Samsung phones, can be found here. For other Android phones, you will have to check the user guide for your specific cell phone to find out how to block phone numbers. 

Additionally, you can ask your carrier to do the blocking for you (for a fee). Click on your carrier below for more info: 

• Verizon
• AT&T
• T-Mobile
• Sprint
  

Also this: 

• Unless you are switching mobile carriers, it will be difficult to truly have your phone number be private.  
• Do not return a call to a number that you do not know, and that hung up after just one ring. This is can be a "one ring" scam. More information can be found on this FTC page.