How to Block an Unknown Number on WhatsApp
By Jon Ben-Mayor |
It has happened to us all, a message, call request, etc., come through on WhatsApp with a number that you do not know offering crypto advice with links to click and other assorted spammy, scammy things. Frustrating and very annoying, especially if you get several a day.
There are many reasons you get unknown numbers contacting you; your number was part of a list, or a friend that you are mutually part of each other's contact lists has had their phone compromised - but there are many others.
It is easy enough to block any caller that comes to your phone via phone settings, but WhatsApp only allows the blocking of connected contacts. Lame. We found a workaround for just that scenario. It is a pain, but if you are getting bombarded, then it will be worth the multi-step process. This was tested on a Samsung Galaxy, but we are pretty sure it will work the same for iPhones, etc.
First, don't open the message at all, as this action could provide the scammer at the other end with confirmation that they reached a live number. And if you accidentally do, for the love of all things holy, don't click on anything inside the message!
You will need to write the offending number down - all the numbers. Then you will go out of Whatsapp and to your phone. There you will create a contact for that number. Give it a name worthy of the scammer that they are like Truck Head.
Those we picked cannot be listed here, but you get the picture. Now you have this number in your phone contacts.
Go back into WhatsApp, hit the three dots, and go to settings > privacy > blocked contacts.
Once there, you will use the +person icon top right, bringing up all your available contacts for blocking.
Then you can search for the Truck Head and click on them. Voila, they are added to the WhatsApp blocklist.
The last step is returning to your phone and deleting the Truck Head contact from your phone list. The number will lose the name you chose, but the number will remain blocked in WhatsApp. We have more than 50 numbers blocked on our daily use phone - so far, so good!
Give it a try, and let us know how it works for you in the comments.
Similar:
How to Block Spam Calls on a Samsung Phone
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There are many reasons you get unknown numbers contacting you; your number was part of a list, or a friend that you are mutually part of each other's contact lists has had their phone compromised - but there are many others.
It is easy enough to block any caller that comes to your phone via phone settings, but WhatsApp only allows the blocking of connected contacts. Lame. We found a workaround for just that scenario. It is a pain, but if you are getting bombarded, then it will be worth the multi-step process. This was tested on a Samsung Galaxy, but we are pretty sure it will work the same for iPhones, etc.
First, don't open the message at all, as this action could provide the scammer at the other end with confirmation that they reached a live number. And if you accidentally do, for the love of all things holy, don't click on anything inside the message!
You will need to write the offending number down - all the numbers. Then you will go out of Whatsapp and to your phone. There you will create a contact for that number. Give it a name worthy of the scammer that they are like Truck Head.
Those we picked cannot be listed here, but you get the picture. Now you have this number in your phone contacts.Go back into WhatsApp, hit the three dots, and go to settings > privacy > blocked contacts.
Once there, you will use the +person icon top right, bringing up all your available contacts for blocking.
Then you can search for the Truck Head and click on them. Voila, they are added to the WhatsApp blocklist.
The last step is returning to your phone and deleting the Truck Head contact from your phone list. The number will lose the name you chose, but the number will remain blocked in WhatsApp. We have more than 50 numbers blocked on our daily use phone - so far, so good!
Give it a try, and let us know how it works for you in the comments.
Similar:
comments powered by Disqus
