MILLIONS of smartphone users have access to an app that will silence frustrating spam and scammer callers.
Last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received a staggering 1.8 million complaints about annoying robocalls from US consumers.
Manage your additional secret phone numbers in the Hushed app
And it’s estimated that nearly 70 million Americans lost money to phone scams in the past year, with scammers raking in nearly $40 billion in total from the scams, according to TrueCaller, an app that blocks spam calls.
Phone scams are becoming more sophisticated, such as AI scams that replicate victims’ voices and are used to pressure loved ones to hand over emergency money.
If you want to block out the noise and stay safe, there’s an app called Hushed that gives you a secret number without the need for an extra SIM card.
How does the app work?
The fully functional second number on your iPhone or Android works for text and calls.
The idea is that you only give this number to friends and family – in other words, the calls you actually want to take.
They offer your Hushed number for business calls and online accounts online to maintain work-life boundaries and reduce spam.
The calls and messages sent to your secret number will show up in the Hushed app so you can tell if it’s a number you want to answer.
“Everyone has the right to privacy on the phone and the freedom to exercise that right anytime, anywhere, and in any situation – whether temporary or even for long-term use cases,” writes user Justin Shimoon on Hushed’s website.
If you’re hesitant about sharing your number with strangers, this is a handy trick to stay safe when dating online or dealing with someone on Craigslist.
What’s the catch?
It’s not free.
The second phone number with unlimited texts and calls costs $3.99 a month, according to Hushed’s website.
Also, it only works with UK, US or Canadian numbers but has over 300 area codes.
Free tips to avoid spammers and scammers
But there are free ways to increase your security if you know how.
This hidden security check in Android phones gives your data an extra layer of protection.
Also, you can follow these government-issued instructions to protect your device from scammers.
