The Spam Storm You Can’t Escape

You’re sitting down for dinner, your phone buzzes, and there it is—another “urgent” text claiming your bank account is frozen or a call about your car’s extended warranty. For many, spam calls and scam texts aren’t just occasional annoyances—they’ve become a daily intrusion. But why is this happening, and more importantly, how can you make it stop?

The truth is, your personal information has likely been collected, sold, and resold through massive data mining networks. This isn’t an accident—it’s a multibillion-dollar industry built on trading your data like a commodity. And until you know how it works, you’ll remain an easy target.

Data Mining 101: How Your Information Gets Out There

Every time you fill out a form, sign up for a free account, enter a contest, or shop online, pieces of your personal data are collected. These pieces include your name, phone number, email address, and even purchase history.

Here’s how it works:

• Collection – Businesses gather your information from purchases, subscriptions, public records, and online activity.
• Aggregation – Data brokers compile this information into massive databases.
• Sale and Distribution – This data is then sold to marketers, advertisers, and, unfortunately, cybercriminals.

The problem? Once your information is in these databases, it’s nearly impossible to keep it from spreading unless you actively remove it.

How Scammers Use This Data Against You

Your phone number in the wrong hands can quickly lead to dangerous encounters:

• Caller ID Spoofing – Criminals disguise their number to look like it’s coming from your bank, a government agency, or even a local number.
• Scareware Texts – Messages claiming “Your phone will be shut down” or “Your account is compromised” are designed to spark panic so you’ll click a malicious link.
• Fake Business Alerts – Scammers impersonate trusted companies to trick you into revealing passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive data.

These scams rely on urgency and fear—two emotions that make people act before thinking.

Why It’s Getting Worse

Robocall and scam text activity has skyrocketed because:

1. Cheap Technology – VoIP services make it almost free to send thousands of calls and texts per minute.
2. Dark Web Data Trade – Hacked databases are sold to the highest bidder, giving scammers a direct pipeline to your contact info.
3. Global Reach – Criminals can target you from anywhere in the world, hiding behind fake numbers and encrypted messaging services.

Add to this the fact that there’s little legal consequence for overseas scammers, and you have the perfect storm.

What You Can Do Right Now to Reduce Spam Calls and Texts

Here’s your immediate action plan:

• Remove Your Data from Online Brokers
  – Use professional data removal services to contact brokers and request deletion.
  – This reduces the availability of your phone number to scammers.
• Change Your Phone’s Privacy Settings
  – On iPhone: Go to Settings → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers.
  – On Android: Use Settings → Block Numbers → Block Unknown/Private.
• Install Call and Text Filtering Apps
  – TrueCaller, Hiya, or your carrier’s spam filter can block known scam numbers.
  – These apps also allow you to report suspicious numbers to help others.
• Don’t Engage with Spam Messages
  – Never click links, call numbers, or reply “STOP” to suspicious texts—it confirms your number is active.
• Be Skeptical of Urgent Messages
  – Banks, government agencies, and legitimate businesses will never demand payment or sensitive information via text or robocall.

Long-Term Safety Habits to Keep You Protected

Stopping spam is not a one-and-done process—it requires ongoing vigilance:

• Repeat Data Removal Every Few Months – Data brokers often reacquire your information over time.
• Use Different Emails and Numbers – Consider a secondary number for online sign-ups.
• Limit What You Share Publicly – Keep your social media profiles private and avoid posting your contact info.
• Stay Updated on Scam Trends – Scammers evolve; knowing the latest tactics helps you avoid falling victim.

Spam calls and texts are more than an inconvenience—they’re often the first step in a larger scam. By understanding how your information is harvested, sold, and exploited, you can take meaningful steps to protect yourself.

Whether you start with adjusting your phone settings, installing a spam-blocking app, or using a professional data removal service like iDefend, the key is to act now—because the next “urgent” call or text could already be on its way.

How iDefend Can Help

Manually scrubbing your personal data from dozens (or hundreds) of online data brokers can take weeks. And even if you do it once, the data often reappears.

iDefend’s Online Data Removal service:

• Identifies which data brokers have your personal information.
• Contacts them directly to demand removal.
• Monitors and re-scans to ensure your data stays removed.

Plus, with iDefend’s 24/7 support team, you’re not just deleting data—you’re backed by identity theft experts who can step in immediately if a scammer tries to misuse your information.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take control of your digital safety today with iDefend. Try iDefend risk free for 14 days now!