Missed voicemails with no calls? It could be a scam

That's exactly what Mike from Westport, CT, is dealing with right now. He wrote to us saying,

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

This tactic is often called a silent voicemail scam or ringless voicemail spam. Here's how it works in plain terms:

At first glance, it looks like a glitch. That confusion is the point.

Here's what's likely happening:

Once a number is confirmed as active, it can be shared across spam networks and used in future campaigns.

It seems pointless, but there's a strategy behind it.

Curiosity does the work for them. Many people return the call just to figure out what happened. When you call back, you may:

Because your phone never rings, traditional call filters may not catch it. That lets more of these messages slip through.

Blocking a single number can still be worth doing, but it usually will not stop the campaign by itself because the caller can keep switching numbers. 

This is one of the first things many people worry about. In most cases, no. These silent voicemails are more likely to be part of a scam call or robocall campaign than a sign that your phone has been hacked. Scammers can use tactics such as caller ID spoofing and ringless voicemail to reach you without making the call feel normal.

The bigger risk isn't your phone itself. It's how the scam tries to get you to respond. Calling back, pressing prompts or engaging with the message can confirm that your number is active and may expose you to more scam attempts. The FTC specifically advises people to hang up or delete the voicemail and not call back unknown numbers.

You don't have to just put up with it. There are ways to reduce or stop these messages. 

Even if it feels harmless, skip it. If it's important, the caller will leave a real message.

On iPhone and Android, turn on built-in call filtering and silence unknown callers. This helps reduce future attempts.

How to enable spam call filtering 

On iPhone (latest iOS)

Option 1: Silence unknown callers

This sends calls from numbers not in your contacts straight to voicemail without ringing.

Option 2: Turn on Call Screening (recommended)

This feature prompts unknown callers to say who they are before your phone rings, which filters out many spam calls automatically.

Optional: Enable spam identification

This allows your iPhone to show verified business names and logos for legitimate callers when available.

On Samsung 

Samsung combines spam protection with AI call screening.

Option 1: Turn on spam protection

This flags suspected spam calls before you answer.

Option 2: Block unknown callers

This stops hidden or unidentified numbers from ringing your phone.

Option 3: Enable Call Screen (best option)

This lets your phone answer unknown calls with AI and show you what the caller says in real time.

One important reality check: Even with these turned on, some calls may still go to voicemail. That's because voicemail is controlled by your carrier, not your phone.

Many carriers offer network-level spam blocking. Ask about tools that block ringless voicemail or robocalls.

Avoid posting your phone number publicly. The less exposure it has, the harder it is for scammers to target you.

Silent voicemails are designed to mess with your instincts. They rely on curiosity and confusion, not sophisticated hacking. The best move is simple. Don't engage. Let them hit a dead end. Over time, that tells the system your number isn't worth the effort.

 Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report